X 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 


OF 


THE  CHURCH, 


FROH    ITS 


ESTABLISHMENT  TO  THE  PRESENT  CENTURY. 


Et  portae  inferi  non  prse valebunt  adversus  earn. 
Matth.  XTJ.  18. 

Non  te  deserimus,  quam  primis  hausimus  annis, 
Relligi'J,  Sacri  custos  saactissima  veri, 
Fida  comes,  tutcla,  et  pectoris  hospita  nostri. 

Santeuil. 


BY  THR  REV.  CHARLES  CONSTANTINE  PISE. 


VOL.  I. 


JJaltfmorc : 

PUBLISHED  BY  P.  BLENKINSOP, 
1827. 


■■<J. 


DISTRICT  OF MARYLJlJSrn,  TO  WIT.— 

[L  S.]  BE  IT  REMEMBERED,  that  on  this  tenth  day  of  March,  in  the  fifty-first 
year  of  the  Independence  of  the  United  States  of  America,  PETER  BLENKINSOP  of  the 
said  District,  hath  deposited  in  this  office,  the  title  of  a  Book,  the  right  whereof  he  claims  a? 
Proprietor,  in  the  words  following,  to  wit: — 

"  A  HISTORT  OF  THE  CHURCH,  from  its  establishment  to  the  present  century. 

Etportae  inferi  non  pra;valebuat  adversus  earn. 

Matth.xvi.  18. 

Non  te  deserimus,  quam  pvimis  hausimus  annis, 
Rellig^io,  Sacri  ciistos  sanctistinia  veri, 
Fida  comes,  tutela,  et  pectoris  liospita  nostri. 

Santeuil, 
Bij  the  Rev.  CHARLES  CONSTANTINE  PISE." 

In  conformity  with  the  act  of  Congress,  of  the  United  States,  entitled  "An  Act  for  tlie 
encouragement  of  learning,  b;,  securing  the  cojiiesof  Maps,  Charts,  and  Books,  to  the  authors 
and  proprietors  of  such  copies  during  the  times  therein  mentioned;"  and  also  to  the  Act,  en- 
titled "  An  Act  supplementary  toihe  Act.  entitled  An  Act.  for  the  enc>iuragtment  of  learning, 
by  securing  the  copies  of  Maps,  Charts,  and  Books,  to  the  autliors  and  proprittors  of  such  co- 
pies, during  the  limes  therein  mentioned,  and  extending  the  benefits  thertof,  to  the  arts  of  de- 
sigiUng,  engraving,  and  etching  historical  and  other  prints.  PHI  LIP  MOORE, 

Clerk  of  the  District  of  Maryland. 


^n^ 


TO   THE 


MOST   REV.  AMBROSE  MARECHAL, 


ARCHBISHOP  OF  BALTIMORE, 


TVVis  Work  is  Respect^uW^  Dedicatee), 


BY  THE  AUTHOR. 


;i^% 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

From  the  establishment  of  the  church.,  to  the 
death  of  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul.     Anno  69. 

•Appendix  to  Chapter  I. 

CHAPTER  II. 

From  the  death  of  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul, 
Anno  69,  to  the  destruction  of  Jerusalem, 
and  the  dispersion  of  the  Jeics.     Ainio  137. 

CHAPTER  III. 

From  the  dispersion  of  the  Jews,  Aono  1 37, 
to  the  end  of  the  fifth  persecution.  Anno 
211. 

CHAPTER  IV. 

From  the  end  of  the  fifth  persecution,  Anno 
211,  /o  the  JVovatian  schism.     Anno  251. 


INDEX  TO  VOLUME  I. 


CHAPTER  I. 

PAGE. 

Joseph  Barsabas, 

.         36 

Matthias  chosen, 

ib. 

Apostles,  the      ....... 

37 

Holy  Ghost,   descent  of        ...         . 

ib. 

Apostles  speak  various  tongues, 

38 

Peter,  his  Sermon, 

39 

cures  the  man  at  the  beautiful  gate. 

ib. 

converts  five  thousand, 

42 

Christians  the  first,  live  in  common. 

.      45 

Ages  primitive,  discipline    of        .        ,         . 

47 

Bishops,  duties  of • 

.       ib. 

Joseph,  a  Levite,          ..... 

48 

Annanias  and  Sapphira,       ..... 

.       49 

Jews,  stubborness  of    . 

50 

Peter  delivered  from  prison,       .... 

.       51 

defends  the  Divinity  of  Christ, 

ib. 

Gamaliel, 

.       52 

Proselytes,  number  of. 

ib. 

Stephen,  Philip,  Timon,  &c.  ordained  deacons,     . 

.       53 

Stephen's  discourse,       ..... 

54 

his  vision   and  death. 

.       ib. 

Saul,       ......... 

ib. 

Gamaliel  buries  Stephen,           .... 

.      ib. 

Disciples,  dispersion  of  the           .... 

55 

Saul  persecutes   the  Christians 

ib. 

Philip  preaches  to  the  Samaritans, 

.      56 

Simon  Magus,         ....... 

ib. 

his  heresy,         ...... 

57 

Saul  goes  to  Damascus,  his  conversion, 

58 

Pilate's  death,        ....... 

59 

Cornelius,  conversion  of    . 

60 

Antioch,  church  of 

61 

VIU. 


INDEX. 


James  St.  beheaded,    .... 
Peter  in  chains,  his  delivery, 
Herod,  death  of       ...         . 
Claudius,       ..... 
Peter  transfers  his  see  to  Rome, 
Evodius  left  by  St.  Peter  at  Antioch, 
Mark  St.  founds  the  church  of  Alexandr 

writes  iiis  Gospel  at  Rome, 
Therapeutae       .... 
Apostles,  dispersion  of  the 
Paul   rebukes  Peter, 
Jerusalem,  council  of 

Peter  presides, 
form  of  the  decree, 
Luke  St.     .       . 
Phillippi,    Paul  at, 
Athens,  do.        .         .         . 

Areopagus,  Paul  before  the     . 
Denis,    conversion  of 
Corinth,  Paul  at,     . 
Thessalonians,  epistles  to  the 
Ephesus,  arrives  at, 
Corinthians,  first  Epistle  to  the 
Excommunicates  the  incestuous  man, 
Apollonius  Tyana3us, 
Corinthians,  second   Epistle  to  the 
Corinth,  Paul  returns  to 
Romans,  Epistle   to  the 
Gallatians,  Epistle   to   the 
Timothy,  first  Epistle  to  the 
Titus,  Epistle  to       .         .         . 
Troas,  arrives  at     . 
.Terusalem,  he  proceeds  to 
Felix,   Paul  before 
Caesar,  he   appeals  to 
Piiblius's  father  cured  by  Paul, 
Puozzoli,  Paul  lands  at 


la. 


INDEX- 


IX. 


PAGE. 

Rome,  arrives  at 95 

Luke  St.  death  of .97 

James  St.  persecution  against         ...        -  ib. 

Philippians,  Epistles  to  the 103 

Philemon,  Epistle  to       •         .         •         .         .  104 

Colossians,  Epistle  to  the  .         •         .         -         .       ib. 

Mark  St.  cousin  to  Barnabas,  .         .         .         105 

Ephesians,   Epistle  to  the 106 

Hebrews,  Epistle  to  the       .....  ib. 

Peter's  journeys,       .         .         .  .        .         .109 

His   Epistles, 110 

Paul  imprisoned,         . Ill 

Timothy,  second  Epistle  to ib. 

Simon  Magus  arrives  at  Rome.     His  death,        .      112  113 
St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul,  martyrdom  of        .         .         .        114 

APPENDIX. 

Ecclesiastical  offices,     .... 

Churches, 

Fountains  in  the  churches, 

Custom  of  receiving  the  Blessed  Eucharist, 

Confession  of  sins,         .... 

Excommunication,     .... 

Indulgences,  ..... 

Abstaining  from  meat, 

Observance  of   Sunday, 

Sign  of  the  Cross,      .... 

Holy  water,  .... 

Ringing  of  bells,         .... 

Mode  of  praying,  .         .         .         , 

The  Mass, 

Purgatory, 

Celibacy  of  the  clergy, 

CHAPTER  II. 
Jews,  condition  of  the,  near  Babylon,  Seleucia  and  Jeru 

salem, 

Sicarii, 


117 
120 
122 
123 
125 
127 
129 
130 
131 
133 
134 
137 
ib. 
139 
140 
142 


147 
148 


X.  IINDEX. 

PAGE. 

Albinus.     Cestius  Florus, 149 

Phenomena,  alarming, 151 

Jesus  son  of  Ananus, ib. 

Syrians,  the 154 

Cestius  Gallus, 157 

Vespasian  conducts  the  Jewish  war,  .        .        .158 

Jotapat,  capture  of ib. 

Nero,  cruelties  of 159 

Galba, 161 

Otho  and  Vitellius, 162 

Vespasian  flattered  with  the  title  of  Messiah,    .  163 

Zelotae, .  .164 

John  and  Simon, 165 

Eleazar, 166 

Titus  commences  his  operations,        .        .        .        .  167 

Jerusalem,  locality  of            170 

famine  in 171 

Mary  the  Jewess, 175 

Temple  consumed, 179 

Ebion.  Cerinthus.    Nestorianism,  germ  of    .        .     182  183 

Menander, 185 

Hermas,  "  of  the  pastor,"            ib. 

Linus  St ,         .  186 

Clctus  St.              ib. 

Clement  St.  Epistle  to  the  Corinthians,    ...  ib. 

Titus  emperor, 190 

Domitian, 191 

John  St.  condemned  to  the  caldron,      .        .         .        .192 

bani.sbed  to  Patmos.    Apocalypse,        .        .  ib. 

Nerva, 193 

John  St.  writes  his  Gospel.     His   Epistles,    .        .  196 

his  death, 1 97 

B.  V.  Mary,  assumption  of 1 98 

Simeon  bishop  of  Jerusalem, 199 

Trajan, ib. 

Ossenians.     Nicholaites, 202 

Gnostics.     Pliny's  letter  to  Trajan,        .        .         .  303 


INDEX. 


XI. 


PAGE. 

204 
210 

ib. 

ib. 

ib. 

ib. 
211 
212 
213 
214 
216 
217 
219 
221 


215 


Ignatius,  martydom  of        ...        . 
^nacletus  St. 

Evaristus  St 

Alexander,  St.         ...... 

Sixtus  I.  St.        . 

Telesphorus,         ...... 

Onesimus,  martyrdom  of    . 
Syria,  persecution  in.    Earthquake  in 
Milleaian  system.     Millenarian  errors, 
Hadrian,        ....  ... 

Saturninus,  Basilides,  Carpocras,  Adamites, 
Valentinians,  Sethians,  Cainites,  Ophitg, 
Quadratus,  apology  of.       Aristides, 
Mark  bishop  of  Jerusalem, 

CHAPTER  III. 

Antoninus  Pius, 223 

Justin  St.  his  dialogue  with  Tryphon,              .         .  224 

Hyginus  St 232 

Pius  I.  St.             ib. 

Anicetus  St.             .......  ib. 

Soter  St.              .......  ib. 

Eleutherius  St.         .......  ib. 

Hegesippus  St.              ......  ib. 

Antoninus,  death  of.     Aurelius  and  Lucius  Verus,        .  233 

Marcion, 234 

Polycarp  St. ib. 

Felicitas  and  sons,      .......  241 

Justin,  second  apology  of.  Martyrdom  and  works,  243  244  245 

Montanus           .    ' ib. 

Theodotus  of  Byzantium, 247 

Theodotus  author  of  the  Melchisedekians,           .         •  248 

Praxeas.     Hermogenes, 249 

Denis  bishop  of  Corinth,             .....  250 

MelitoSt. 251 

Athanagoras  St •  ib* 

Legion,  "  the  thundering"           .         .         .         ,         •  253 

Pothinus  St.           .......  254 


i 


Xll. 


INDEX. 


PAGE. 

Irenaeus  St — his  works 258  262 

Commodus, .  265 

Apolloiiius  St .  266 

Theophilus  St.       .......  267 

Pertinax.   Didius  Julian.     Severus,    ....  270 

Victor  St .  271 

Serapion  bishop  of  Antioch,       .....  ib. 

Pantaenus  St. ib. 

Coadjutor  bishop,  first  example  of      ....  274 

Easter  celebration, 275 

Zephyrinus  St 279 

Severus,  edicts  of           ......  ib. 

Leonides  St.     Origen, 280  281 

PotamiaenaSt 282 

Perpetua  and  Felicitas  S.  S 284 

Gaul,  persecution  in  .         .         •         .         .         ,         .  289 
Tertullian.    Apologetic.  His  death,         .         .  291  292  293 

Caracalla  and  Geta, 298 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Minutius  Felix, .  299 

Octavius.   Caecilius, 300 

Caius,  a  Roman  priest.     Callixtus.     Julius  Africanus.  302 

Macrinus,           303 

Heliogabalus, 304 

Alexander, 306 

Origen,  Hexapla  and  Octapla  of      ...        ,  313 

Gregory  Thaumaturgus  St 317 

Maximinus, 323 

Urban  St.    Pontian  St.   Anterus  St.     Fabian  St.       .  326 

Maxinius  and  Balbinus.     Gordian,         .        .        .  328 

Philip, 329 

Alexander  Carbonarius, 330 

Cyprian  St 335 

-Sleepers,  seven  holy, 340 

Paul  the  first  hermit, 343 

Libellatici.     Felicissimus, 344 

Novatus, 345 


PREFACE. 


The  History  which  I  now  venture  to  lay  before  the 
public,  was  begun  above  five  years  ago,  in  conjunction  with 
a  young  gentleman  of  eminent  talents,  and  considerable  at- 
tainments.    At  first,  it  was  our  design  merely  to  gather  notes, 
and  collect  facts,  with  a  view  to  acquire  a  thorough  know- 
ledge of  ecclesiastical  history  :  it  was  not  our  intention,  at 
that  time,  nor  had  we  the  least  idea,  to  publish  our  writings. 
The  undertaking  had  not  proceeded  far,  before  my  compa- 
nion quitted  America,  and  went  to  Europe,  to  pursue  his  theo- 
logical studies.     His  departure  did  not  discourage  me  :  for 
some  time  I  continued  my  labour,  on  the  original  plan  :  but 
afterwards  by  the  advice  of  friends,  I  was  persuaded  to  re- 
trace my  course,  and  model  my  notes  into  the  shape  of  a 
regular  history:  I  at  first  shrunk  from  the  trouble:  for  I  did 
not  deem  myself  adequate  to  the   task:  but  reflecting  that 
my  efforts,  whatever  they  may  be,  might  perhaps  prove  use- 
ful to  the  public,  I  determined  to  encounter,  with  courage, 
every  new  difliculty,  and  continue  my  undertaking  with  the 
design  of  publishing  it,  provided  it  should  meet  the  encou- 
ragement of  my  superiors.     By  them  my  attempt  was  viewed 
with  peculiar  complacency.     For  though  aware  that  it  could 
not  be  a  perfect  history,  still  they  believed  that,  as  the  plan  is 
much  more  extensive  than  that  of  any  other  in  the  English 
language,  it  might  be  of  use:  they  knew  that  it  was  not  in 


\1V.  PREFACE. 

my  power  to  enter  profoundly  into  the  subject:  to  consult  all 
the  original  works  :  to  verify  all  the  references  which  I 
have  collected  from  various  authors:  but  still  I  had  before 
me  the  principal  writers:  such  as  Baronius,  Spondanus, 
Fleury,  Berii,  &c.  &c.  from  whom  I  endeavoured  to  extract 
what  I  considered  to  be  most  interesting,  and  authentic.  Ma- 
ny facts,  no  doubt,  I  have  omitted:  perhaps  some  important 
ones:  others  I  may  not  have  represented  in  their  most  proper 
colours:  the  style  in  many  particulars  may  be  defective: 
several  typographical  inaccuracies  may  have  escaped.  Upon 
the  indulgence  of  the  reader  I  rely:  it  is  my  first,  and  a  very 
considerable,  attempt.  I  trust,  however,  notwithstanding  all 
its  defects,  that  it  will  not  be  unworthy  the  patronage,  or  dis- 
appoint the  expectations,  of  my  friends. 

I.  For  greater  perspicuity,  I  remarked  in  the  adver- 
tisement, that  1  should  divide  the  whole  work  into  four  pe- 
riods. Considering  the  first  (I  mean  the  primitive  ages)  in 
its  proper  light:  that  is,  as  a  source  of  virtue  and  science, 
and  the  basis  of  religion  and  piety,  I  shall  endeavour  to  col- 
lect some  few  of  the  treasures  scattered  in  profusion,  through 
the  ancient  monuments:  I  do  not,  however,  mean  to  make 
particular  mention,  much  less  to  give  the  analysis,  of  the 
voluminous  writings  with  which  the  early  ages  abound.  The 
most  comprehensive  work  could  scarcely  do  justice  to  so 
boundless  an  undertaking.  Nor  do  I  mean  to  interrupt  the 
career  of  history  by  my  own  remarks:  but  to  afford  abundant 
matter  to  interest  the  attention,  and  awaken  the  reflections,  of 
the  reader. 

II.  In  the  history  of  the  second  period  which  comprises 
the  middle  ages,  I  shall  be  still  more  succinct.  I  will  not  at- 
tempt to  dispel  the  gloom  which  has  been  thrown,  by  many 


PREFACE.  XV. 

popular  writers,  over  this  period :  nor  will  I  deny  that  the 
torch  of  human  science  was  very  dim  in  some  parts,  and  al- 
most totally  extinguished  in  others:  but  it  must  be  remem- 
bered, that  during  these  obscure  ages,  the  church  of  Christ 
was  not  less  under  the  protection  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  than  in 
its  brightest  and  serenest  days.  The  church,  like  the  sun, 
may  occasionally  be  enveloped  in  clouds:  but  she  will 
emerge  from  them  at  length  with  a  renovated  lustre. 

III.  The  history  of  the  third  period  will  be  a  history  of 
revolutions:  which  were  naturally  followed  by  a  relaxation 
of  discipline  and  morals.  It  must,  however,  be  carefully 
remarked,  that  the  doctrine  and  morality  of  the  church  were 
always  delivered  pure  and  invariably  the  same:  far  from 
being  able  to  cite  a  single  canon  to  countenance  depravity  or 
error,  the  great  body  of  the  pastors  insisted  on  Christian  ho- 
liness; and  the  lives  of  many,  even  of  the  laity,  presented 
examples  of  the  austerest  virtue. 

IV  The  history  of  the  fourth  and  last  period,  as  it  ap- 
proaches nearer  our  own  times,  is  of  all  others,  the  most  in- 
teresting: the  monuments  it  presents  are  more  numerous,  and 
perhaps  too,  more  satisfactory,  than  those  of  any  other.  It 
will  consequently  demand,  and  is  entitled  to,  particular  at- 
tention. In  concluding  this  introduction,  I  may  be  allowed  to 
indulge  one  reflection:  there  are  not  wanting,  writers,  who 
appear  to  triumph  in  exaggerating  the  vices  of  some  of  the 
popes.  The  vices  of  a  few  unworthy  pontiffs,  reflected  dis- 
grace merely  on  their  own  persons:  they  were  not  the  result 
of  their  belief:  the  church  rests  not  on  the  virtues  of  men, 
but  on  the  power  of  God.  Scandals  are  inevitable:  this 
the  Redeemer  had  long  before  declared.  When  they  occur 
in  the  sanctuary,  they  are  lamentable  indeed:  but  amidst  them 


XVI.  PREFACE. 

all,  the  church  j)rescrvcd  the  palladium  of  failh  unaltered 
and  inviolate. 

This,  therefore,  is  the  object  of  the  present,  and  should  be 
of  every  church  history:  to  shew  the  unceasing  protection 
of  the  Almighty  over  the  great  body  of  his  people:  the  sanc- 
tity, as  well  as  indefectibility  of  his  church:  her  beauty  and 
splendour,  even  during  the  darkest  and  most  gloomy  periods. 
Nothing  is  better  calculated  to  strengthen  our  faith  and  en- 
kindle our  fervour,  than  to  contemplate  the  invariable  provi- 
dence of  the  Almighty  over  his  church:  against  which  the 
powers  of  darkness  may  contend,  but  "  the  gates  of  hell  shall 
nerer  prevail." 

Baltimore,  Saratoga  st.  June  5,  1827. 


PREPARATORY  DISCOURSE. 


The  origin  of  religion  is  coeval  with  that  of  mankind: 
and  the  church  of  Jesus  Christ,  considered  in  its  widest 
extent,  commences  with  the  fall  of  Adam;  or  the  pro- 
mise made  to  him,  of  a  Redeemer,  after  having  forfeit- 
ed by  sin,  his  claim  to  future  happiness.  Sinful  man,  much 
more  fortunate  than  the  rebellious  angels,  was  elevated,  by 
the  infinite  bounty  of  his  Creator,  to  a  rank,  superior  to  that 
from  which  his  fall  had  degraded  him:  from  his  seed  was  to 
be  born,  in  the  plen  jtude  of  time,  a  son  like  unto  himself  in 
every  thing  but  sin:  and,  at  the  same  time,  perfectly  equal  to 
God;  that  is  true  God,  and  true  man.  Uniting  in  one,  undivided 
person,  the  divine  and  human  nature:  who  having  a  natural 
right  to  the  inheritance  of  Heaven,  by  dying  on  a  cross  for 
the  salvation  of  his  brethren,  according  to  the  flesh,  commu- 
nicated to  them,  a  participation  of  his  glorious  privileges. 
Thus,  man,  fallen  from  the  eminent  holiness,  to  which  the 
Creator  had  exalted  him,  at  his  birth,  becomes,  by  the  medi- 
ation of  a  God- man,  not  only  the  friend,  but  the  child  of  God, 
and  co-heir  of  Jesus  Christ.  At  this  memorable  epoch,  was 
established  in  its  essence,  the  church:  an  institution,  more 
wonderful  and  more  honourable  to  the  human  kind  than  that 
state  of  innocence,  in  which  Adam  had  been  originally  created. 
For  man  to  profit  by  so  great  a  benefit,  one  condition  was, 
however,  indispensable,  viz:  that  all,  as  well  under  the  na- 
tural, as  under  the  Jewish  law,  should  believe  in  the  expect- 
ed Redeemer:  and  hope  from  him,  and  from  their  works  in 
conjunction  with  his  merits,  the  forgiveness  of  sin,  and  ever- 
lasting happiness.  The  holy  ^.atriarchs  transmitted  the 
saving  tradition  to  their  children:    God  himself  frequently  re- 

VOL.  I. — 2 


XVm.  PREFAKATORV  DISCOURSE. 

mi.ided  llicm  of  his  promises:  and  through  the  organs  of"  men, 
inspired  by  himself,  and  by  means  of  types  and  emblems,  ex- 
pressive of  the  truth;  he,  one  while,  represented  the  eter- 
nal Pontift",  the  "Conciliator"  of  heaven  and  earth,  under  the 
character  of  the  priest  and  peaceful  king  of  Salem;  another 
while,  by  the  sufferings  of  the  just  man  Job,  he  designated 
the  great  model  of  all  justice,  covered  with  opprobrium,  and 
transfixed  with  sorrow. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  posterity  of  Adam,  growing  up,  in 
the  midst  of  darkness  and  corruption,  instead  of  making  use 
of  the  remedy  offered  them,  augmented,  by  their  actual 
crimes,  the  blindness  which  they  had  inherited  from  their 
fallen  progenitor:  abandoned  themselves  to  every  excess: 
and  erected  temples  to  the  infernal  author  of  their  de- 
gradation. The  most  shocking  profanations  were  substitut- 
ed in  lieu  of  the  hallowed  practices  of  genuine  religion;  and 
the  name  and  worship  of  the  living  God  were  almost  forgot- 
ten in  the  world,  which  his  power,  and  his  wisdom  had  crea- 
ted. To  save,  from  entire  ruin,  the  seeds  of  future  sanctity; 
to  preserve  the  memory  of  the  expected  Saviour  of  mankind, 
and  to  keep  the  image  of  the  God-head,  effectually  imprint- 
ed on  the  human  soul;  it  became  necessary  to  separate,  from 
the  carnal  and  corrupted  mass,  a  chosen  people:  and  to  con- 
sign to  their  care,  the  preservation  of  those  sacred  traditions 
the  accomplishment  of  which  was,  to  annul  the  ceremonies 
and  sacrifices  of  the  Jewisii  law.  The  father  of  the  faithful, 
in  compliance  with  the  commands  of  God,  quitted  the  land  of 
his  birth,  and  proceeded  to  that,  which  had  witnessed  the 
origin  of  the  human  race;  and  which,  better  than  any  other, 
could  present  to  his  contemplation,  a  vivid  memorial  of  the 
mercies  of  the  Creator.  The  promises  of  God  were  there 
renewed,  either  in  words,  or  by  figures  adapted  to  the  genius 
of  the  time  and  country;  and  calculated  to  make  the  deepest 
impressions  on  the  human  mind.  To  the  son  of  Thare  a 
promise  was  made,  that  he  should  not  only  become  the  father 
of  a  people,  more  numerous  than  the  stars  of  heaven,  or  the 


PREPARATORY  DISCOURSE.  XIX. 

Sands  of  the  sea,  but  that,  in  him,  all  the  nations  of  the  earth 
should  be  blessed.  The  former  of  these  promises  can  be 
but  imperfectly  applied  to  the  Hebrews,  circumscribed,  as 
they  were  within  the  narrow  boundaries  of  Palestine:  the 
glory  of  the  latter,  can  be  ascribed  to  Jesus  Christ  alone: 
for,  in  him,  the  descendant  of  Abraham,  according  to  the 
flesh,  all  the  nations  of  the  earth  have  been  blessed.  Abra- 
ham, as  the  Lord  commanded,  imprinted  on  his  own  flesh  the 
seal  of  the  divine  covenant,  and  the  symbol  of  that  indeli- 
ble character,  which  the  sacrament  of  regeneration  was,  one 
day,  to  engrave  on  the  Christian  soul.  In  his  son  Isaac,  born 
contrary  to  the  common  laws  of  nature,  of  an  aged  father, 
bent  under  the  weight  of  years,  and  a  mother,  who  had  been 
all  her  life  time,  barren:  in  Isaac,  that  child  of  benediction, 
who  was  commanded  to  carry  the  wood  for  his  sacrifice,  on 
his  own  shoulders,  to  the  figurative  mount,  was  represented 
the  Messiah:  born  of  a  virgin  mother,  (whose  virginal  integ- 
rity remained  nevertheless,  after  her  maternity,)  and  bearing 
to  mount  Calvary  the  cross,  on  which  he  was  to  die,  and 
atone  for  the  sins  of  mankind.  When  the  posterity  of  Abra- 
ham were  to  be  delivered  from  Egyptian  bondage,  it  was  the 
blood  of  a  lamb,  a  figure  of  him  "  that  taketh  away  the  sins 
of  the  world,"  that  saved  each  family  from  the  exterminating 
angel;  the  multiplied  sacrifices,  prescribed  by  the  Jewish 
laws,  derived  their  virtue  from  the  adorable  victim,  whom 
they  prefigured.  Who  cannot  see,  in  the  emissary  goat, load- 
ed with  the  sins  of  Israel,  him,  who  was,  one  day,  to  be 
dragged  to  the  hill  of  Calvary;  to  be  immolated,  for  the  in- 
iquities of  his  people.''  Who  does  not  perceive  him  in  the  bra- 
zen serpent,  raised  up  to  the  view  of  the  Hebrew  people, 
in  the  desert,  that  they  might  be  healed  by  looking  on  it.''  In 
the  wonderful  person  of  Sampson,  who  fought,  like  a  host  of 
men,  against  his  enemies,  and,  in  an  instant,  saved  his  nation, 
by  sacrificing  his  own  life.  In  a  Jonas,  swallowed  by  a  whale 
and  re-appearing,  alive  and  sound  at  the  expiration  of  the 
third  day.? 


XX.  Pl{i:i»ARAlORY  UISCOUUSK. 

If  obscurity  still  linger  on  those  tyi)es,  which  were,  in 
truth,  hut  the  shadows  of  "future good  things;"  what  a  flood 
of  liglit  is  poured  on  thcrn  by  the  revelations,  and  the  oracles 
of  the  prophets?  The  Jewish  legislator,  (1)  did  not  fail  to 
admonish  the  ])rople,  that  the  reign  of  servile  observances 
was  to  continue  only  for  a  while;  and  that  the  Lord  was,  one  day 
to  raise  up  a  great  prophet  "  who  should  be  heard  forever.'" 
The  prophets  (2)  specify  the  time,  place,  and  circumstances 
of  his  coming:  The  lowly  village  of  Bethlehem,  which  was 
to  be  exalted,  by  his  birth,  above  the  wealthiest  cities  of  Is- 
rael: the  tribe  of  Judah  and  the  "  root  of  Jesse,"  from  which 
his  origin  was  to  be  derived:  the  precise  epoch  of  his  coming 
pointed  out,  by  an  event,  no  other,  than  the  translation  of  the 
sceptre  of  Juda,  into  foreign  hands.  The  exact  number  of 
years,  at  the  close  of  which,  he  was  to  appear;  and  the  very 
period,  (3)  in  which  he  was  to  be  denied  and  crucified,  by 
his  people.  David  (4)  beheld  the  Son  of  God,  whom  he 
called  also  his  Lord,  issuing,  before  the  birth  of  the  morning 
star,  from  the  bosom  of  the  eternal;  and  sitting  in  the  splen- 
dour of  the  saints,  at  the  right  hand  of  his  father,  on  a  throne 
more  shining,  and  immoveable  than  the  pillars  of  heaven. 
He  heard  the  most  High,  addressing  him  from  all  eternity,  in 
this  sublime  language:  (5)  "  Thou  art  my  beloved  Son:  this 
day  have  I  begotten  thee."  His  empire  is  as  extensive  as 
the  earth;  his  people  He  shall  govern,  in  sweetness  and  truth, 
and  justice,  and  (G)  "  of  his  kingdom,  there  shall  be  no  end." 


(1";  PUOPHETAM  de  geiite  tua  et  de  fratribus  tuis  ficut  me, 
suscitabit  tibi  Domimis  Dens  tuns,  ipsiim  audies.     Dent.  cap.   18. 

(2)  F.T  TUBEIHLEHKM  Ephra'a,  paiviilus  es  in  millibus  Juda  : 
ex  te  mibi  eg;redietur  qui  fit  doniinatop  in  Israel,  et  egressus  ejus  ab 
initio,  a  diebiis  ?eteriiitatis.     Mich.  cap.  5. 

(j)  Scito  egro,  et  aniniadverte:  Ab  exitii  sermonis,  lit   iteriim  Kdifice- 

tur  Jerusalem;   iisqae  ad  Christum  ducem,   bebdomacics  septem,  et  heb. 

domades  sexaj^inta  dufe  erunt:  et   rursum  atdificabilur  platea,  et   muri 

in  angustia  teniporum; 

Ki  post  hebdoniades  sexaginta  dua>i  occidetur  Christus,  8cc,  Dan.cap.9, 

(4)  Ps.  71    vide  tolum. 

(5)  Ps.  2.  7. 

(6)  Et  reg-ui  ejus  non  eiit  finis. 


PKEFAliATOUY  DIBCOUHSE  Xii. 

riie  prophets  have,  in  every  age,  published  the  same  won- 
'lers:  (l)aiKl  it  is  remarkable,  that,  in  the  tlccline  of  the 
Jewish  empire,  when  the  administration  of  affairs  devolv- 
ed on  Simon,  the  only  surviving  brother  of  Judas  MachabKus, 
the  act  of  investiture  specifies,  "that  neither  he,  nor  his  des- 
cendants, should  retain  it  longer,  than  the  coming  of  the  ex- 
pected Messiah."  The  knowledge  of  this  great  future 
event,  was  not  confined  to  the  country  in  which  the  God  of  Isaac 
had  thought  fit  to  reveal  it,  in  a  special  manner.  Holy  Job, 
(2)  in  the  midst  of  the  pagan  world,  clearly  professed  his 
belief  in  the  coming  of  a  God-man:  and,  in  the  plainest  terms, 
informs  us,  that  he  firmly  hoped  one  day,  to  contemplate  his 
God,  his  Redeemer,  living  and  visible,  even  to  his  human  eyCt 

As  this  is  not  meant  to  be  the  history  of  the  religion  of 
God  from  its  earliest  institution,  I  shall  not  attempt  to  unra- 
vel the  long  unbroken  series  of  prophecies:  what  I  have  hither- 
to enlarged  on,  was  only  to  prepare  the  reader  for  the  pub- 
lication of  the  Gospel;  or  rather  for  the  establishment  and 
propagation  of  the  church,  properly  so  called.  As  however, 
the  errors  of  the  Arian  heresy  have,  after  the  sleep  of  so  many 
ages,  been  resuscitated  in  our  days,  and  in  our  country,  it  may 
perhaps  be  useful  to  the  reader,  to  enter  more  at  length  on  the 
discussion  of  a  subject,  which  is  of  the  first  importance  to  the 
Christian  world.  We  shall,  therefore,  present  a  few  striking 
traits  of  Christ's  divinity,  from  the  prophet  Isaiah;  who  seems 
to  be  rather  the  historian,  than  the  prophet,  of  the  Redeemer. 
From  the  commencement  of  iiis  prophecy,  he  represents  the 
Son  of  God  in  all  his  grandeur  and  divinity,  as  he  is  from  all  eter- 
nity in  the  bosom  of  his  father.  "  Who"  (3)  he  exclaims,  "shall 
tell  his  generation,  more  bright  and  more  ancient  than  the 

(1)  Bossuet  Hist  univer.  2  I'art.  5. 

(2)  Scio  enim  quod  Redemplor  mens  vivit,  et  in  novissimo  die  de 
terra  surrecturus  sum: 

Et  rursum  circumbador  pelle  mea,  et  in  came  mea  videbo  Deum 
meum. 

Quern  visurus  sum  ego  ipse,  et  oculi  mei  couspecturi  svint,  et  non 
alius:  reposita  est  haec  spes  inea  in  sinu  meo.    .lob,  cap.  19. 

(3j  Isaiah  53. 


XXII.  PREPAnATORY  DISCOURSE. 

morning  star!  As  to  his  temporal  ti^encration,  he  continues  (1)  a 
virgin  shall  conceive  and  bring  forth  a  Son,  the  Prince  of 
Peace,  the  Son  of  David,  whose  name  is  Emmanuel;  that 
is,  God  with  us:  or,  at  once,  both  God  and  Man.  (2) 
Darkness,  he  continues,  shall  cover  the  earth,  and  a  mist 
the  people:  nations  shall  be  wrapt  in  gloom:  but  when 
the  splendour  that  is  to  illumine  the  birth  of  the  Messiah, 
when  the  miraculous  star  of  Jacob  shall  appear,  the  princes 
of  the  Gentiles  shall  commence  their  journey  to  adore 
him:  they  shall  come  from  Saba,  bringing  gold  and  the  rich 
presents  of  the  east:  With  these,  they  shall  load  the  drome- 
daries of  Madian  and  Epha;  kings  shall  feci  honoured  to  be 
his  fosterers,  and,  with  their  heads  bowed  down  to  the  earth, 
"  shall  adore  him."  In  these  sublime  figures,  he  presents,  in  a 
no  less  striking  manner,  the  wonders,  which  the  desired 
OF  NATIONS  was  to  Operate  In  the  moral,  as  well  as  in  the 
physical,  world.  (3)  "  When  our  God  shall  appear,  then 
shall  the  eyes  of  the  blind  be  opened;  and  the  ears  of  the 
deaf  unsealed.  The  lame  man  shall  leap  as  the  hart;  and 
the  tongue  of  the  dumb  shall  be  loosed:  for  '' waters  are  bro- 
ken out  in  the  desert,  and  streams  in  the  wilderness.  And 
again:  the  Redeemer  of  the  Lord  shall  return,  and  shall  come 
into  Sion,  with  praise;  everlasting  joy  shall  be  on  their  heads, 
and  sorrow  and  mourning  shall  flee  away — the  wolf  shall 
forego  his  natural  ferocity:  the  tiger  and  the  Iamb  shall  range 
the  plains  together,  and  the  sting  of  the  asp  be  blunted  on 
"  the  sacred  mountain;"  that  is  cruelty,  perfidy  and  crime,  in 
every  shape,  shall  be  proscribed  by  the  Gospel.  Thus  has 
the  prophet  himself  explained  it,  in  the  astonishing  cause, 
which  he  assigns  to  this  new  order  of  things.  This  prodigy, 
he  adds,  shall  take  place;  for  the  earth  shall  be  filled  with 
the  knowledge  of  the  Lord.  He  marks,  still  more  clearly, 
the  establishment  and  the  holy  fecundity  of  the  church;  the 

(1)  Isaiah  7.  14, 

(2)  Isaiah  60,  2,  3. 

(3)  Isaiah  a5« 


PREPARATORY  DISCOURSE.  XXlIf 

mother  of  all  nations:     "  Give  (I)  praise,  O  thou  barren  one 
that  bearest  not!  sing  forth  praise,  and  make  a  joyful  noise 
thou  that  didst  not  travail  v^^ith  child,  for  many  are  the  chil- 
dren of  the  desolate,  more  than  of  her  that  hath  a  husband, 
saith  the  Lord.     Thou  shalt  pass  on  the  right  hand  and  the 
left;  and  thy  seed  shall  inheritthe  Gentiles:  for  he  that  made 
thee,  shall  rule  over  thee.     The  Lord  of  hosts  is  his  name; 
and  thy  Redeemer,  the  holy  one  of  Israel  shall  be  called  the 
God  of  all  the  earth.     In  a  moment  of  indignation,  I  have 
hid  my  face  from  thee,   a  little  while,  but  with  everlasting 
kindness  have  I  had  mercy  on  thee,  saith  the  Lord  thy  Re- 
deemer.    I  shall  found,  for  thee,  a  new  habitation:    It  shall 
be  more  solid  and  more  durable  than  the  mountains:  for  the 
mountains  shall  be  moved,  and  the  hills  tremble,  but  my  mercy 
shall  not  be  moved  from  thee;  and  the  covenant  of  my  peace 
shall  not  be  moved:  thy  bulwarks  shall  be  of  jasper:  thy 
gates  more  shining  and  impenetrable  than  the  saphire  and  the 
diamond:  but  the  strongest  pillar  of  thy  power  and  happi- 
ness shall  be  justice,  on  which  thou  shalt  be  founded,  and  the 
discipline  of  truth  which  thy  children  shall  be  taught  by  the 
Holy  one  of  IsraeV^ 

To  these  features  of  grandeur  and  sublimity,  the  prophets 
add  the  picture  of  the  sorrows  and  opprobrium,  with  which 
the  Messiah  was  to  be  surrounded:  it  was  necessary  that  the 
portrait  should  present  a  faithful  likeness  of  the  Re- 
deemer's ministry.  Our  Heavenly  Father,  offended  by  the 
sins  of  mankind,  had  consented  to  pardon  them,  but  he  had 
not  promised  to  do  so,  without  an  adequate  reparation.  On 
the  contrary,  he  resolved,  while  signalizing  his  mercy,  to  vin- 
dicate his  majesty  and  justice,  more  terribly  than  he  had  done 
by  the  punishment  of  the  rebel  angels.  No  creature,  how- 
ever perfect,  could  of  himself,  make  that  adequate  satisfaction: 
and  man,  without  being  at  the  same  time  God,  could  never 
have  effected  it.     But  God,  unless  at  the  same  time,  man, 

(1)  John  54,  60. 


XXIV.  PKEPARATORY  DISCOURSE, 

could  not  suffer;  could  not  be  subject  to  contempt  and  humili- 
ation; ami  consequently  could  not  make  the  necessary  satis- 
faction. A  God-man  was,  therefore  required:  and  had  the 
Messiah  been  any  thing  less,  he  would  have  been  utterly  in- 
adequate to  the  great  function  of  atonement  and  redemption. 

Deeply  impressed  with  this  idea  of  the  Saviour,  Isaiah  and 
David  omit  not  to  join  the  sufferings  of  the  son  of  man,  >vith 
the  attributes  of  the  Deity:  and  this  even  in  detail,  and  with 
circumstantial  minuteness.  The  royal  prophet  had  foreseen 
the  dislocation  of  the  Messiah's  limbs:  the  perforation  of  his 
hands  and  feet:  his  tongue  dipped  in  vinegar  and  gall:  his 
seamless  vestment  torn,  and  divided  among  the  soldiers. 
He  had  heard  the  savage  joy,  expressed  by  his  enemies,  at 
his  sufferings:  and  had  seen  them,  like  wild  beasts  slaking 
their  thirst  in  his  blood. 

Isaiah  beheld  "the  man  of  sorrow"  (1)  stricken  by  the 
hand  of  God,  treated  as  the  last  of  men,  and  reduced  to  a 
kind  of  annihilation:  he  saw,  and  represented  him,  scourged, 
disfigured,  like  a  leper:  pierced  with  nails,  crowned  with 
thorns:  and  covered  with  so  many  wounds,  that,  from  head 
to  foot,  there  remained  of  him,  scarcely  one  feature  of  his 
divinity,  or  even  his  humanity;  he  appeared  less  a  man,  than 
a  worm,  trampled  under  foot,  says  the  prophet;  and  yet, 
guilty  of  no  crime!  The  Lord  had  laid  on  him  the  burden 
of  our  iniquity;  and  to  expiate  our  sins,  subjected  him  to  ig- 
nominy and  death:  it  is  by  his  bruises;  by  his  generous  obla- 
tion, that  we  are  healed.  He  was  immolated,  because  himself 
had  wished  it.  Like  an  innocent  lamb,  he  was  dragged  to 
the  slaughter,  without  complaining  under  the  hand  that  be- 
reaved him  of  his  life. 

Isaiah  takes  notice  of  his  prayer  for  his  crucifiers;  his  death 
in  the  company  of  two  thieves;  and  his  burial  in  the  tomb  of 
the  rich  man,  or  of  Joseph  of  Arimathea.  But  what  he  pub- 
lishes with  peculiar  triumph,  is  the  glory  of  that  sepulchre, 

(1)  Isaiah  53- 


PREPARATORY  DISCOURSE.  XX V- 

SO  honoured,  in  after  ages,  by  the  homage  of  the  greatest  po- 
tentates, by  the  concourse  of  princes  from  the  north  and  the 
south,  the  east  and  the  west.  Thus  it  is,  that  that  sublime 
prophecy  has  explained,  how,  from  the  blood  he  was  to  shed 
for  the  sins  of  others,  was  to  spring  a  long  posterity;  that  he 
was  to  annihilate  the  power  of  the  enemy  of  souls;  and  in  a 
most  glorious  manner,  "  lead  captivity  captive." 

Let  any  one  who  denies  the  divinity  of  Christ,  take  up  the 
sacred  text  in  which  are  found  these  oracles  of  truth,  pro- 
nounced by  different  men,  at  different  times,  so  many  ages  be- 
fore the  event  took  place:  and  let  him  then  say  whether  the 
features  of  the  prophetic  picture  are  not  distinctly  and  most 
accurately  delineated,  by  the  evangelists.  I  shall  point  out 
those  passages,  in  the  life  of  the  "  Word  made  flesh," 
which  require  to  be  dwelt  on,  with  a  more  particular  atten- 
tion. 

It  is  worth  remarking,  that  notwithstanding  the  miraculous 
and  glorious  circumstances  of  his  birth,  his  infancy  and  his 
youth,  were  spent  in  obscurity;  unnoticed  by  the  world.  At 
the  age  of  thirty  years,  he  caused  liimself  to  be  announced  by 
the  precursor,  whom  Isaiah  had  called  "  the  voice  of  one  that 
crieth  from  the  wilderness."  (1)  Shortly  after  this,  he  ap- 
peared in  public:  he  openly  exercised  the  ministry  of  the 
word:  he  removed  every  veil  that  still  concealed  the  meaning 
of  the  prophecies:  he  made  the  synagogue  echo  to  the 
sound  of  truths,  which  it  never  before  had  heard:  such  grace 
and  light  did  his  language  diffuse,  that  all  who  heard  him 
exclaimed  with  astonishment:  (2)  "  Is  not  this  the  son  of 
the  carpenter,  Joseph !"  Whence  comes  this  depth  of  learn- 
ing, seeing  that  he  has  never  been  taught! 

The  world,  in  fact,  had  never  witnessed  any  thing  like  the  di- 
vine facility  with  which  he  unfolded  the  sacred  mysteries;  the 
purity  and  sublimity  of  the  doctrine  which  he  announced;  and 
the  power  which  he  exercised  over  the  evil  spirits.     Passing 

.     (1)  Isaiah  40. 

(2)  Luke  4.  22.    Joan.  vi.  42, 


XXVI.  PREPARATORY  DISCOURSK, 

near  tlie  lake  of  Galilee,  he  saw  two  fishermen:^  Simon, 
afterwards  surnamed  Peter,  and  Andrew,  his  brother,  em- 
ployed in  mendini^  their  nets:  he  said  to  them,  "  follow  me:" 
(1)  and  they  abandoned  all  things,  and  followed  him.  He 
associated  to  himseif,  in  the  same  manner,  all  his  disciples: 
and  sometimes  with  such  promptness,  as  not  even  to  allow 
them  time  sulficient,  to  render  the  last  rites  of  sepulture  to 
a  parent:  and  with  such  perseverance,  as  never  to  look  back 
after  having  once  put  the  hand  to  the  sacred  work.  Multi- 
tudes of  people  flocked  to  him,  with  a  similar  ardour.  He 
directed  their  hearts:  enlightened  their  minds:  and  exer- 
cised the  ministry  of  the  word,  in  a  manner,  evidently  supe- 
rior to  the  limited  power  of  the  scribes  and  pharisees. 

What  admirable  lessons  did  he  teach:  did  he  not  infinitely 
exceed,  the  expectations  of  the  multitude,  in  his  first  sermon 
on  the  mountain!  (2)  What  ideas  of  virtue  and  perfection! 
elevated  above  the  maxims  of  the  wisest  legislators,  or  the 
most  austere  reformers.  Whence  did  he  derive  that  sublime, 
that  pure,  that  original  morality,  of  which  he  gave  the  first 
striking  lesson,  in  the  discourse  of  which  we  are  now  speak- 
ing. In  the  midst  of  a  carnal  people,  who  seemed  to  attach 
their  salvation  to  their  material  temple,  and  the  observances 
of  a  ceremonious  and  external  worship:  at  a  time,  when  the 
doctrine  handed  down  by  Moses,  had  become  vitiated  by 
traditions,  which  had  been  multiplied  and  confused  by  dif- 
ferent sects:  he  delivered  the  sublimest lessons:  which  mani- 
festly prove,  that  he  who  announced  them,  could  have  derived 
them  from  himself  alone.  "  If  your  justice,  said  he  to  his 
disciples,  exceed  not  that  of  the  scribes  and  pharisees,  you 
shall  not  enter  the  kingdom  of  heaven:  you  have  heard  it 
said;  "  You  shall  love  your  brother,  and  hate  your  enemy; 
but  /  say  to  you,  bless  them  that  curse,  and  pray  for  them 
that  persecute  and  calumniate  you.  It  is  written,  'an  eye  for 
an  eye,  and  a  tooth  for  a  tooth:  but  I  command  you  to  carry 

(I)  Matthew,  4  19. 
(2}  Job,  5. 


PREPARATORY  DISCOURSE.  XXVir. 

your  perfection  so  far,  as  to  turn  the  left  cheek  to  him,  who 
strikes  you  on  the  right;  and  to  him  who  taketh  away  your 
cloak,  give  up  your  coat  also.  In  the  law  of  Moses,  you 
were  forbidden  to  put  away  your  wives,  without  first  ob- 
taining a  bill  of  divorce:  but,  I  say  to  you,  whoever,  hence- 
forth, shall  abandon  his  wife,  or  marry  a  woman  so  repudiat- 
ed, shall  be  guilty  of  adultery.  Know  that  he  who  looks  on 
a  woman,  wnth  an  evil  intention,  has  already  committed  adul- 
tery with  her,  in  his  heart  You  have,  hitherto,  been  for- 
bidden to  profane  the  name  of  God :  but  I  forbid  you  every 
unnecessary  oath;  or  to  swear,  even  by  creatures:  for  in 
Ihem,  you  must  reverence  the  Creator.  You  must  not  only 
abstain,  exteriorly,  from  evil,  but  even  from  the  thoughts  and 
affections  of  evil:  for  they  stain  the  soul  of  him,  who  indul- 
ges them.  Even  in  your  deeds  of  piety,  do  not  think  that 
you  are  innocent,  if  your  motives  be  not  diligently  purified. 
When  you  give  alms,  do  not  sound  the  trumpet  before  you, 
as  hypocrites;  but  rather  let  not  your  right  hand  know  what 
is  done  by  the  left:  seek  not  that  vain  recompense,  which  this 
world  can  bestow;  but  the  regard  of  Him,  whose  eye  sees 
your  most  hidden  actions.  Be  not  solicitous  for  riches,  which 
rust  can  destroy,  and  which  can  fall  into  the  hands  of  rob- 
bers: but,  let  your  treasures,  your  hearts,  and  your  affec- 
tions be  all  centred  in  heaven.  In  a  word,  be  perfect  as 
your  heavenly  Father  is  perfect." 

How  sublime  are  the  maxims  of  this  legislation.''  but  what 
is  more  striking  still  is,  that  whilst  other  legislators  only 
trace  out  speculative  rules  of  virtue,  without  giving  the  means 
of  reducing  them  to  practice,  the  Christian  law-giver 
affords  us  grace  to  follow  his  sublimest  lessons;  and  renders 
public  sinners,  the  masters  and  models  of  perfection.  At  his 
first  invitation,  Matthew,  (1)  a  publican,  abandons  all  things 
and  becomes  one  of  his  most  zealous  co-operators.  The 
chief  of  the  publicans,  Zacha^us,   (2)   rivals  in  piety,  the 

(1)  Matt.  9   9. 

(2)  Luke  19  5. 


XXVIII.  PUEPAKA  roUY  DISCOURSE.      CM 

most  fervenl.  amou!,'  tlic  people  of  God:  and  1)y  Ins  generous 
charity,  confounds  the  ostentation  of  the  piiarisees.  The 
sinful  woman  (1)  of  Jerusalem  performs  an  exemplary  pen- 
ance, and  holds  a  conspicuous  rank  among  the  saints  that  have 
been  formed  in  the  school  of  Jesus.  The  prostitute  of  Sa- 
maria, (2)  not  only  forsakes  her  schism,  and  voluptuous  life, 
but  becomes  an  apostle  among  her  countrymen.  The  thief  is 
converted  on  the  cross,  (3)  so  miracuously,  that  the  same 
day  which  saw  him  condemned  for  his  crimes,  to  loose  his 
life  upon  a  gibbet,  witnessed  his  enrolment  among  the  bles- 
sed in  heaven. 

The  divine  author  of  the  law  of  grace,  gives  to  the  weak- 
est souls  a  more  than  merely  human  perfection:  and  imparts 
to  the  dullest  capacities  a  profound  knowledge  of  the  things 
of  God.  The  greater  number  of  the  Jews,  notwithstanding 
their  prophets  and  the  law  they  had  received,  could  not 
even  name  the  first  of  our  mysteries.  If,  when  they  styled 
the  God  of  Israel,  him  that  is,  they  knew  how  to  express,  in 
a  general  manner,  the  independence  and  attributes  of  his  being, 
at  least  they  knew  not,  how  to  specify  the  precise  manner 
of  his  being,  in  Three  Persons,  all  equally  endowed  with  un- 
limited perfection. 

In  the  happiest  days  of  the  Hebrews,  Solomon  put  to  them 
iliis  singular  question;  "  Tell  unto  me  the  name  of  God,  and 
the  name  of  his  Son,  if  you  know  it.""  (4)  But  Jesus  Christ 
informs  us  that  this  mysterious  name  is  that  of  Father:  but  of 
a  father,  who,  from  all  eternity,  engenders  a  son,  co-equal  to 
himself;  and  that  the  name  of  tliat  son,  tlie  image  of  tlie  eter- 
nal Father's  substance  and  perfections,  is  no  other  than  "  The 
Word."  With  the  Father  and  the  Son  reigns  also  the  Holy 
Ghost;  the  substantial  love  of  both,  and  the  eternal  bond  of 
their  inseparable  union.     It  was  for  this  Son,  who  resided  in 


(1)  Lvike  7.38. 

(2)  Joan  4.  7,  &.C. 

(3)  Joan  23,  43. 

(4)  Prov.  3U. 


'^-  '  PREPARATORY  DISCOURSE.  XXIX. 

the  bosom  of  the  Father,  and,  at  the  same  time,  dwelt  among 
us;  it  was  for  him  "that  shineth  in  darkness"  (1)  to  manifest 
to  the  Aiithful  in  general,  what  had  hitherto  been  known  only 
to  the  special  friends  of  God,  to  the  patriarchs  and  prophets; 
and  which  created  astonishment  in  the  cherubim  themselves. 
It  was  for  him  to  teach  us  that  the  Messiah,  the  Saviour  of 
men,  himself  a  man,  should  at  the  same  time,  be  announced 
under  the  unalienable  appellation  and  attributes  of  the  Deity; 
whence  it  is,  that  he  is  God,  "  and  the  Son  of  God;''''  and  at  the 
same  time,  man  arid  "  the  son  of  man.''''  In  a  word,  it  was  re- 
served for  him  alone  to  teach  us,  that  he  is  an  incarnate  God; 
and  that,  in  order  to  reconcile  all  things  in  himself,  he  unites, 
in  his  person,  the  divine  and  human  natures. 

He  performed  in  like  manner,  the  wonders  of  an  omnipo- 
tent being,  during  many  successive  years;  he  travelled  through 
Palestine,  working  the  most  extraordinary  miracles  in  behalf 
of  the  people,  and  he  alone  appeared  insensible  to  the  senti- 
ment of  wonder  wliich  his  prodigies  excited.  The  raising 
of  Lazarus  from  the  dead,  he  styles  the  waking  of  one  wiio 
had  been  asleep;  (2)  to  the  paralytic,  who  had  been  alflicted 
thirty-eight  years,  he  says  witliout  the  least  emotion,  "  take 
up  thy  bed  and  vv^alk;"  (3)  with  equal  composure  and  effect, 
he  commands  every  species  of  sickness:  and  all  the  powers  of 
hell.  The  principle  of  liis  divine  operations  is  in  his  own 
power:  they  flow  from  that  scource,  and  sometimes  appear 
to  anticipate  his  orders.  When  the  woman,  afllicted  for  so 
many  years,  with  an  issue  of  blood,  (4)  had  merely  touched 
the  hem  of  his  garment,  "  I  feel,  said  he,  that  virtue  has  gone 
out  from  me;  and  that  virtue,  says  the  evangelist,  went  forth 
abundantly;  and  multitudes  were  healed.  He  proves  him- 
self no  less  the  model  of  perfection,  than  the  teacher  of  truth, 
and  Lord  of  nature.     "  Which  of  you  can  convince  me  of  sin," 

(1)  Joan  1.5. 

(2)  Joan.  xi.  9. 
(:i)   Malth  9.  6. 
(4j  Matth.  20. 


XXX.  PREPAKATOUY  DISCOURSE. 

(1)  did  he  say  to  a  multitude  of  his  enemies  who  watched, 
with  censorious  jealousy,  all  his  actions,  Not  one  among 
them  could  reproach  him  with  the  slightest  fault,  for  which 
there  was  the  least  foundation.  If  they  pretended  to  be 
scandalized,  at  his  keeping  company  with  publicans  and  sin- 
ners, the  scandal  existed  only  in  the  minds  of  the  pharisees; 
whose  pride  and  envy  gave  utterance  to  such  reproaches 
against  him,  who  was,  at  once,  the  most  innocent,  and  the 
greatest  of  the  children  of  men. 

But  the  more  than  angelic  purity  of  his  manners  the 
darkest  malice  never  dared  call  in  question:  He  openly 
gloried,  and  no  one  could  convince  him  of  the  contrary,  that 
his  sole  occupation  was  to  do  the  will  of  his  Heavenly  Father. 

What  assiduity  in  the  temple,  his  only  residence  in  Jerusa- 
lem, on  all  the  festivals,  and  at  all  exercises  of  a  religion 
which  was  merely  figurative,  and  on  the  eve  of  being  abolish- 
ed; but  which  he  honoured,  to  the  moment,  marked  out,  by 
the  Lord,  for  the  exaltation  of  his  Christ.''  What  zeal  for 
the  house  of  God:  it  was  like  a  devouring  fire.  The  prince 
of  peace,  in  his  whole  life,  never  expressed  a  sentiment,  of  an- 
ger, except  against  the  profane  men,  who  made  the  house  of 
prayer  a  den  of  thieves.  (2)  What  reverence  did  he  not 
testify  for  the  chair  of  Moses,  notwithstanding  the  unworthi- 
ness  of  those  who  sat  in  it.-*  (3)  What  deference  did  he  pay 
to  the  priests  ?  To  them  he  sends  the  lepers  whom  he  had 
healed,  and  submits  his  divine  works  to  their  examination. 
What  generosity !  what  disinterestedness !  what  an  entire  de- 
tachment from  the  desires  and  pleasures  of  this  life! 

More  destitute  than  the  beasts  of  the  forest,  he  knew  not 
where  to  rest  his  head:  (4)  king  of  kings,  in  as  much  as  he 
was  God;  and  as  man,  heir  to  the  throne  of  David,  the  peo- 
ple, at  one  time,  penetrated  with  veneration  for  the  august 

(1)  Joan  8.46. 

(2)  Matth.  21.  13. 

(3)  Job  25.  2  and  S. 

(4)  Matth.  2.  80. 


PREPARATORY  DISCOURSE.  XXXl. 

majesty  of  his  person,  wished  to  establish  him  in  the  posses- 
sion of  his  rights,  and  he  flies  from  among  them  as  if  from 
some  impending  calamity.  (1)  He  is  scrupulously  exact  in 
the  payment  of  the  tribute;  and  if  he  wishes  us  to  render 
unto  God,  the  things  that  are  God's,  he  also  requires  a  pro- 
found respect  for,  and  obedience  to,  the  laws  of  the  country, 
in  which  we  live.  (2) 

How  great  is  his  charity  and  his  love  of  doing  good:  of 
such  virtues,  his  whole  life  was  a  perpetual  series.  That 
no  country  might  be  excluded  from  his  benedictions,  he 
travelled,  without  ceasing,  over  Judea  and  Galilee,  to  the 
confines  even  of  Tyre  and  Sidon;  though  not  directly  sent 
to  those  idolatrous  cities.  He  did  good  to  the  jealous  phari- 
sees,  as  well  as  to  the  faithful  Israelites:  wrought  miracles, 
and  displayed  his  glory  only  when  conducive  to  the  advantage 
of  his  people.  If  he  refused  to  work  in  the  heavens  those 
signs,  which  the  Jews  required  as  the  test  of  his  divinity: 
he  delivered  those  possessed  by  the  evil  spirit:  cured  the  sick, 
raised  the  dead  to  life:  converted  sinners  and  imparted  vigor 
both  to  soul  and  body.  No  envy,  nor  ingratitude;  neither 
dangers  nor  treachery  could  check  the  progress  and  extent 
of  his  charity.  His  own  disciples  were  astonished  at  the  in- 
trepidity, with  which  he  returned  to  the  places  where  his 
life  had  been  endangered:  and  where  but  a  few  days  before, 
his  enemies  had  nearly  succeeded  in  effecting  his  death. 

In  fine,  what  strength,  and  what  divine  fortitude  in  the 
consummation  of  his  sacrifice!  here  his  virtue  is  supported 
by  itself  alone:  no  comfort  from  his  friends:  no  applause  from 
the  multitude.  The  people  witnessed  the  greatness  of  his  soul, 
but  blasphemed  his  heroism.  The  most  vaunted  of  the  phi- 
losophers of  old,  (3)  seeking  an  idea  of  perfect  virtue,  dis- 
covered, that  as  there  could  be  no  mortal,  more  odious  than 
the  wicked  man,  who,  by  his  hypocrisy,  could  succeed  in  at- 


(1)  Joan  6.  15. 

(2)  Matt.  22.  21. 

(3)  Plato  de  Repub.L2. 


WXil,  PREPARATORY  DISCOUllSE. 

ladling  to  hiinscirall  the  reputation  and  esteem  of  virtue;  so 
the  most  estimable  would  be  the  unfortunate  just  man,  who 
thouijh  worthy  of  all  the  recompense  of  virtue,  should  be 
covered  with  the  shame  of  guilt:  in  such  a  manner,  that  hav- 
ing no  other  friend  than  his  conscience,  he  should  see  him- 
self condemned  to  suffer  death,  by  all  who  knew  him.  Just 
and  admirable  idea,  with  which  the  pagan  philosopher  was, 
as  many  fathers  have  observed,  inspired,  only  to  shew  how  it 
was  exemplified  in  the  Saviour  of  the  world:  with  this  ad- 
ditional circumstance,  that  he  was  not  only  to  die  without  osten- 
tation but  also  without  fear.  Such  virtue  could  belong  to  him 
alone,  who  was,  at  once,  both  God  and  man.  A  virtue, 
which  appears  with  greater  splendour  through  the  opprobrium 
with  which  his  enemies  endeavoured  to  conceal  it,  at  his 
death,  than  in  the  brightest  actions  of  his  life:  and  which,  not- 
withstanding the  scandal  of  the  Jew,  and  the  sneers  of  the 
gentile,  imprints  on  the  mystery  of  the  cross,  the  seal  of  the 
power  and  the  wisdom  of  God:  The  august  victim  under- 
went a  voluntary  sacrifice;  he  had  foreseen  that  death  which 
so  many  prophets  had  announced:  he  had  foretold  all  the 
circumstances  of  it:  he  delivered  himself  up,  when  the  "hour" 
of  the  powers  of  darkness  liad  arrived:  and,  in  surrendering 
himself  to  his  enemies,  had  forbidden  them  to  attempt  the  life 
or  liberty  of  his  disciples:  he  was  silent,  in  his  own  defence: 
he,  whose  divine  eloquence  had  so  often  confounded  the  envy 
and  malice  of  his  enemies,  disdained  the  protection  of  the 
Roman  governor;  who,  for  a  single  answer,  would  have  set 
him  at  liberty.  Pilate  felt,  for  such  supernatural  magnanimity 
a  sentiment  of  admiration,  mingled  with  fear:  Christ  refused 
to  work  one  of  those  miracles,  which  were  so  familiar  to 
to  him,  to  satisfy  the  curiosity  of  Herod;  whose  first  expres- 
sions of  good  will,  were  turned  into  an  affectation  of  com- 
passion, as  false  as  it  was  contemptible.  He  opened  not  his 
mouth,  but  to  pardon  the  outrages  committed  against  him  ;  to 
pray  for  his  enemies;  to  accomplish  the  prophecies,  until  all 
was  consummated.     In  the  mean  time,  the  earth  trembles: 


PREPARATORY  DISCOURSE.  XXXIII. 

the  rocks  burst  asunder:  the  tombs  fly  open:  the  veil  of  the 
temple  is  rent:  the  sun,  shrouded  by  no  natural  cause,  leaves 
the  world  in  darkness,  for  three  hours.  The  disorder  of  na- 
ture does  homage  to  the  divinity  of  Jesus  Christ:  and  he 
himself,  to  prove  that  his  death  was  not  the  eiFect  of  weak- 
ness, uttered  a  groan,  so  loud  and  extraordinary,  that  the 
centurion,  as  well  as  some  of  the  guards,  returned  striking 
their  breasts,  and  exclaiming,  "  truly,  this  man  was  the  son 
of  God."  (1)  The  third  day  after  he  was  crucified,  he 
raised  himself  from  the  dead :  appeared  to  his  disciples:  con- 
firmed his  apostles,  the  pillars  of  that  church  which  was  one 
day  to  embrace  all  the  nations  of  the  earth :  and  caused  Peter 
to  be  acknowledged  as  prince  of  the  apostles.  To  him  and 
to  his  colleagues  in  the  apostleship,  he  confided  the  power, 
given  him  by  his  Father;  promising  to  be  with  them  all  days, 
even  to  the  consummation  of  the  world.  (2)  At  the  same 
time  he  forbade  them  to  commence  their  ministry,  until 
they  should  have  received  the  gifts  and  graces  of  the  Holy 
Ghost.  Remain,  he  said  to  them  before  his  ascension  in- 
to heaven,  remain  at  Jerusalem,  until  you  shall  be  clothed 
with  strength  from  on  high.  In  fine,  the  fortieth  day  after 
his  resurrection,  he  blessed  his  disciples,  to  the  number  of 
five  hundred,  and  in  their  presence,  ascended  triumphantly 
into  heaven.  The  disciples,  as  he  had  commanded  them,  re- 
turned to  Jerusalem,  and  continued  in  prayer  and  recollection 
expecting  the  fulfilment  of  his  promise. 

(1)  Matt.  27-  54.     Marc.  15  39. 

(2)  Matt.  16.  18. 19.  &c.     Id.  28. 


VOL.    I.— 3. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 


CHAPTER  I. 

emperors  of  rome. 

Caligula. 
Claudius. 
Nero. 

POPE. 

S.  Peter. 

From  the  establishment  of  the  church,  to  the 
death  of  S.  Peter  and  S.  Paul.    Anno  69. 

1 0  the  pen  of  an  inspired  writer  we  are  in- 
debted for  the  history  of  the  first  estabhshment 
of  the  church.  From  the  acts  of  the  apostles 
we  learn,  that  Peter,  theheadof  the  apostolic 
college  and  vicar  of  the  Redeemer,  proposed, 
in  the  33d  year  of  Christ,  (1)  to  fill  up  the  place 
of  the  traitor  Judas.     In  virtue  of  the  su- 


(1)  This  is  the  ordinary  calculation. 


36  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

preme  di^jnity  witli  wliich  he  was  invested,  he 
addressed  his  colleagues,  and  tlie  disciples,  to 
the  number  of  about  an  hundred  and  twenty; 
and  insisted  on  the  necessity  of  appointing  a 
substitute  in  the  room  of  the  unfortunate  trai- 
tor. He  was  heard,  with  the  respect  due  to 
the  first  pastor:  all  submitted  to  his  judgment: 
and  immediately  took  measures  to  carry  his  pro- 
posal into  execution.  Two  candidates  were  no- 
minated :  Joseph,  called  in  Hebrew,  Barsabas, 
which  signifies  the  just ;  and  Matthias.  The 
necessary  qualifications  and  eminent  virtues 
of  each,  were  so  balanced,  that  it  was  deemed 
proper  to  leave  the  choice  to  the  will  of  Provi- 
dence :  that  choice  was  to  be  determined  by 
lot;  it  fell  upon  Matthias:  who  was  immediate- 
ly raised  from  the  condition  of  a  simple  disci- 
ple, to  the  sublime  dignity  of  an  apostle.  Thus 
were  filled,  witliout  exception,  the  twelve 
thrones,  on  which,  according  to  the  expression 
of  Jesus  Christ,  were  to  be  seated  the  pastors, 
sent  to  the  twelve  tribes  of  Israel.  Besides 
Peter,  their  chief,  and  Matthias,  whose  lot  we 
have  just  seen  determined,  the  ten  other 
apostles  were : — John  and  James,  the  sons  of 


HISTORY    OP    THE  CHURCH.  37 

Zebedee ;  Andrew,  the  brother  of  Peter,  and 
the  first  called ;  Philip,  Thomas,  Bartholo- 
mew ;  Matthew  or  Levi,  who  had  been  a  pub- 
lican ;  James,  called  the  less,  son  of  Alpheus, 
and  of  Mary  sister  or  cousin  german  to  the 
blessed  Virgin ;  Simon  of  Cana  ;  and  Jude  or 
Thaddeus  brother  to  James  the  less.  These 
were  the  ministers  chosen  by  the  Almighty, 
for  the  execution  of  the  most  noble  and  won- 
derful designs.  All,  with  the  exception  of 
Matthew,  selected  from  the  lowest  orders  of 
society  :  possessing  neither  learning  nor  for- 
tune :  and  brought  up,  from  their  earliest 
youth,  in  the  meanest  occupations.  They  con- 
tinued in  recollection  and  prayer,  during  the 
space  of  ten  days,  until  the  first  day  of  Pente- 
cost, or  of  the  offering  of  the  first  fruits  of  the 
harvest ;  one  of  the  three  principal  feasts  of 
the  people  of  God.  About  the  ninth  hour  of 
the  morning,  (1)  "there  was  heard  a  loud 
noise,  as  it  were  of  a  mighty  wind."  In  a  mo- 
ment they  were  changed ;  elevated  above  all 
human  things,  and  replenished  with  light  and 
knowledge.    In  a  word,  they  became  courage- 

(1)  Acts.  ii. 


38  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

ous  apostles,  and  wortyiy  ministers  of  God. 
Unable  to  contain  within  themselves,  the  sa- 
cred ardonr  with  which  their  hearts  were  in- 
flamed ;  they  sallied  forth  from  their  retreat, 
and  rendered  public  testimony  of  the  divinity 
and  resurrection  of  Jesus  Christ. 

It  was  perceived  that  they  spoke  various 
languages:  the  solemnity  which  the  Jews 
were  then  celebrating  had  gathered,  at  Jeru- 
salem, strangers,  from  almost  every  region  : 
Parthians,  and  Medes,  and  Elamites,  and  in- 
habitants of  Mesopotamia,  Judea  and  Cappa- 
docia ;  Pontus  and  Asia  ;  Phrygia  and  Pam- 
philia ;  Egypt  and  the  parts  of  Lybia  about 
Cyrene ;  and  strangers  of  Rome,  Jews  also 
and  Proselytes,  Cretes  and  Arabians ;  that  is 
to  say,  Jews  born  in  these  several  countries. 
Never  before,  had  there  met  together  such  a 
numerous  concourse  for  the  celebration  of  the 
passover,  and  the  succeeding  festivals.  If  we 
may  credit  Josephus,  the  Jewish  historian,  (1) 
the  whole  world  was  persuaded,  that  the  time 
marked  out  by  the  prophecies  had  arrived ; 
and  the  Messiah  about  to  appear.     The  apos- 

(1)  Joseph,  lib.  Bell.  vii.  12. 


HISTORY  OP  THE  CHURCH.  89 

ties  announced  the  gospel  to  the  assembled 
multitudes.  They  replied  to  the  questions  and 
difficulties  proposed  to  them :  and  the  stran- 
ger from  every  country  was  addressed  by  them 
in  his  native  language.  Never  before  had  the 
world  witnessed,  or  heard  of,  such  a  prodigy : 
the  fact  was  evident.  Peter,  the  chief  of  the 
apostolic  college,  addressed  himself,  to  the 
people :  he  shewed  in  the  clearest  manner, 
how  all  the  prophecies  had  been  accomplished 
in  the  person  of  Jesus  Christ :  that  he,  whom 
they  had  a  few  weeks  before,  crucified,  was 
in  reality  the  Son  of  God,  and  the  Messiah. 
At  his  first  sermon,  three  thousand  Jews  be- 
lieved, and  were  baptized.  Sometime  (1)  af- 
terwards, as  Peter  and  the  "  beloved  disciple" 
were  going,  about  the  hour  of  prayer,  to  the 
temple  ;  (for  the  circumcised  faithful,  wishing 
to  shew  their  respect  for  the  synagogue  until 
its  total  extinction,  still  observed  the  exer- 
cises of  the  Mosaic  law,)  they  met  at  the  gate 
of  the  temple,  called  the  beautiful,  a  beg- 
gar, who  had  been  born  lame ;  and  who,  for 
many  years,  was  accustomed  to  sit  at  this 

(1)  Jos.  Ant,  xiv.  8. 


40  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH, 

gate,  soliciting  alms  from  those  who  passed  by: 
he  was  known  to  all  the  city.  He  exposed 
his  miserable  condition  to  the  apostles,  and 
besought  them  to  relieve  him.  The  spirit  of 
God  inspiring  them,  they  said  to  him,  with  one 
voice:  "Look  upon  us;"  he  obeyed,  with  all 
the  eagerness  of  hope  :  "  Silver  and  gold  we 
have  none,"  resumed  Peter,  "  but  what  we 
have,  that  will  we  give  to  thee  :  In  the  name 
of  Jesus  Christ  of  Nazareth,  rise  up  and  walk." 
The  lame  man,  was  cured  on  the  spot. 

After  this,  they  all  three  advanced  to  the 
porch  of  Solomon  :  the  people  collected  from 
every  direction  :  and  Peter  soon  saw  himself 
surrounded  by  an  immense  multitude,  impa- 
tient to  hear  the  particulars  of  the  miracle, 
which  had  just  been  operated.  Peter  said  to 
them  :  "  Ye  men  of  Israel,  why  wonder  you 
at  this  ?  And  why  look  upon  us,  as  if  by  our 
own  power,  we  had  made  this  man  to  walk  ? 
The  God  of  our  fathers  hath  glorified  his  Son 
Jesus  Christ,  whom  you,  indeed,  delivered  up, 
and  denied  before  the  face  of  Pilate,  when 
he  judged  he  should  be  released.  But  you 
denied  the  Holy  and  the  Just  One ;  and  de- 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  41 

sired  a  murderer  to  be  granted  to  you;  but  the 
Author  of  Ufe  you  killed;  whom  God  hath  rais- 
ed from  the  dead,  of  which  we  are  witnesses, 
and  his  name,  through  the  faith  of  his  name, 
hath  made  this  man  strong,  whom  you  have 
seen  and  known:  and  the  faith  which  is  by  him, 
hath  given  this  perfect  soundness,  in  the  sight 
of  you  all :  and  now  brethren,  I  know  that  you 
did  it  through  ignorance,  as  also  your  rulers ; 
but  those  things  which  God  had  foretold,  by 
the  mouth  of  his  prophets,  that  his  Christ 
should  suffer,  he  hath  so  fulfilled.  Repent  ye, 
therefore,  and  be  converted  ;  that  your  sins 
may  be  blotted  out ;  and  that  you  be  not  ex- 
cluded from  the  benedictions,  promised  to  our 
fathers,  and  in  the  race  of  Abraham,  to  all 
the  earth.  Behold  we  have  reached  the  time 
predicted  by  all  the  prophets,  and  of  which 
Moses  in  particular,  has  said  :  "  A  prophet 
shall  the  Lord  your  God,  raise  up  unto  you, 
out  of  your  brethren,  like  unto  me  ;  him  you 
shall  hear  according  to  all  things,  whatsoever 
he  shall  speak  to  you  ;  and  it  shall  be,  that 
every  soul  which  will  not  hear  that  prophet, 
shall  be  destroyed  from  among  the  people." 


42  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

Five  thousand  persons,  exclusively  of  wo- 
men and  children,  were  converted  by  this  dis- 
course; (1)  in  defiance  of  the  tumults  excited  by 
the  priests,  the  ministers  of  the  temple,  and  a 
crowd  of  anjj^ry  saducees.  This  sect,  though 
divided  among  themselves,  became  united 
when  there  was  question  of  persecuting  the 
disciples  of  Jesus  Christ.  The  priests  could 
not  endure  to  witness  so  glorious,  and  so  pub- 
lic a  testimony  rendered  to  the  Saviour  ;  and 
the  latter,  disbelieving  the  resurrection  of  the 
body,  were  fired  with  rage,  at  the  proof  deriv- 
ed from  the  resurrection  of  Christ,  in  favour 
of  the  future  resurrection  of  the  dead.  They 
seized  upon  the  two  apostles,  as  also  the  beg- 
gar who  had  been  healed.  As  it  was  now  late, 
they  put  them  under  a  strong  guard,  until  (2) 
the  following  day.  In  the  morning,  the  San- 
hedrim was  assembled  :  Annas,  the  father- 
in-law  of  Caiphas,  presided  over  this  supreme 
council  of  the  Jews  ;  which  consisted  of  seven- 
ty-one members  :  of  which  twenty-four  were 
chiefs  of  the  priesthood,  and  the  rest  doctors 
and  levites,  chosen  from  the   several  tribes. 


(1)  Acts.  iv.     (2)  Thai.  Cod.  Sanh.  C.  1  et  Seq. 


HISTORY  OP  THE  CHURCH.  43 

It  assembled  only  on  business  of  the  first  im- 
portance. The  apostles,  being  conducted  in- 
to the  synagogue,  were  asked,  in  what  name, 
or  by  what  virtue,  they  had  wrought  so  great 
a  miracle  ?  Peter  fearlessly  replied,  that  it 
was  in  the  name  of  Jesus,  whom  they  had 
crucified  :  and  that  nothing  should  ever  pre- 
vent him  from  referring  the  glory  of  the  mira- 
cle to  its  proper  author.  That  this  same  Al- 
mighty benefactor,  the  foundation  stone,  men- 
tioned by  the  prophets,  though  rejected  by 
men,  was  still  the  basis  of  the  great  edifice  of 
man's  salvation  :  and  that  there  was  no  other 
name  under  heaven,  except  the  name  of  Je- 
sus, by  which  mankind  could  be  saved. 

Such  firmness  and  knowledge  of  the  scrip- 
tures, in  men,  who,  but  a  few  days  before, 
were  so  cowardly  and  ignorant,  awakened 
the  astonishment  of  the  Sanhedrim.  They 
saw,  standing  near  them,  the  lame  man,  who 
had  been  healed  by  the  apostles :  and  they 
knew  not  to  what  pretended  cause  to  attri- 
bute the  fact,  in  order  to  compass,  with  de- 
cency, the  object  of  the  council.  For  the 
present,    they   remanded    the    prisoners    to 


44  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

their  confinement ;  and,  after  a  long  delibera- 
tion, contented  themselves  with  forbidding 
them  to  preach  for  the  future,  in  the  name 
of  Jesus.  Such  an  order,  replied  the  apostles, 
we  will  not  obey.  Judge  of  it,  by  that  law 
which  we  mutually  revere.  "  Is  it  just  to  hear 
men,  rather  than  God  ?"  Again  did  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Sanhedrim  threaten  the  apostles: 
but  as  they  feared  the  people,  who  were  pub- 
lickly  giving  glory  to  the  Lord,  for  what  they 
had  seen,  they  found  it  necessary  to  set  the 
prisoners  at  liberty. 

Peter  and  John  recounted  to  the  faithful 
what  had  taken  place  :  all  blessed  God,  whose 
power  nothing  can  resist :  but  prudently  fore- 
seeing, that  the  peace,  granted  by  the  syna- 
gogue, would  be  of  short  duration,  they  be- 
sought the  Almighty  to  give  to  the  preachers 
of  his  name,  together  with  the  gift  of  mira- 
cles, the  grace  to  make  them  tend  to  his 
greater  glory.  Heaven  showed,  in  a  sensi- 
ble manner,  that  their  prayer  was  heard. 
The  place  in  which  the  apostles  and  disciples 
were  assembled,  was  shaken ;  and  all  present 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  45 

received,  with  still  more  abundance,  the  gifts 
of  the  Holy  Spirit. 

The  deep  impressions  which  the  divine 
word  made  on  the  hearts  of  those,  to  whom 
it  was  announced,  and  who  received  it  with 
humility,  were  still  more  salutary,  than  the 
gifts  of  tongues  and  miracles.  The  whole 
city  of  Jerusalem  was  struck  at  the  pious  and 
recollected  demeanour  of  the  first  Christians. 
But  what  principally  arrested  the  notice  of  a 
people,  so  proverbially  carnal,  and  singularly 
attached  to  the  good  things  of  this  life,  was 
the  disinterestedness  which  they  observed 
among  the  followers  of  the  new  law;  who 
indeed  resembled  angels,  rather  than  men. 
The  community  of  the  faithful  had  but  one 
heart  and  one  soul :  no  individual  possessed 
any  thing  which  was  not  at  the  same  time 
common  to  all.  They  sold  their  possessions 
and  laid  the  price  of  them  at  the  feet  of  the 
apostles ;  who  distributed  it  to  all,  as  from  a 
common  fund.  Thus,  for  the  first  time,  were 
to  be  seen,  men  equally  removed  from  riches 
and  poverty.  The  days  of  this  blessed  so- 
ciety flowed  happily  away,  in  innocence,  and 
virtue,  and  undisturbed  tranquillity. 


46  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

The  idea  of  such  a  community  of  goods,  (1) 
and  detachment  from  the  world,  was  present- 
ed to  the  primitive  Christians  by  tlie  Esseni- 
ans;  a  sect  of  Jews,  who  had  the  reputation 
of  being  more  holy  than  their  brethen  :  but 
who,  at  the  same  time,  were  more  proud  and 
superstitious.  They  were  jealous  of  a  certain 
independency,  which  taught  them  to  acknow- 
ledge no  superior  but  God ;  and  ready  to  sa- 
crifice their  hves,  rather  than  submit  to  the 
commands  of  men,  no  matter  how  just.  This 
shows  how  far  removed  they  were  from  the 
pure  and  solid  virtues  of  the  Christians :  who 
were  not  less  humble  than  disinterested :  and 
while  they  were  the  most  edifying,  were,  at 
the  same  time,  the  most  charitable  and  useful 
members  of  society. 

The  apostles  were  careful  to  cultivate  these 
first  fruits  of  grace ;  especially  in  the  prose- 
lytes, whose  numbers  were  every  day  increas- 
hig  :  they  scrupulously  attended  to  their  dis- 
cipline and  morals;  and  regularly  convened 
the  brethren,  at  the  house  of  some  of  the  dis- 
ciples of  distinguished  virtue. 

(1)  Jos.  Bell.  2.  12. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  47 

Thus  they  assisted  at  the  adorable  myste- 
ries: received  the  sacraments,  and  were  in- 
structed in  the  doctrines  and  counsels  of  the 
Redeemer.  One  house  not  being  sufficient 
to  contain  all,  they  were  obliged  to  divide  in- 
to separate  communities  :  which  formed  as  it 
were,  so  many  congregations,  in  the  different 
quarters  of  Jerusalem.  They  were  under  the 
direction  of  at  least  one  priest,  ordained  ac- 
cording to  the  ceremonies  of  the  new  law, 
with  some  inferior  ministers.  We  learn  from 
St.  Epiphanius,  that,  in  the  first  age  of  the 
church,  the  apostles  established  as  well  bish- 
ops and  deacons  without  priests,  as  priests  and 
deacons,  without  bishops.  But  as  for  the  first 
order  of  the  hierarchy,  I  mean  bishops,  their 
ordinary  functions  were  like  those  of  the 
apostles,  viz :  to  announce  the  gospel,  with 
more  dignity  and  authority :  to  confound  the 
incredulous  :  to  visit  the  rising  churches  :  to 
strengthen  the  faithful  in  their  belief,  and  to 
disseminate  the  principles  of  the  Christian 
religion. 

This  discipline,  and  the  usages  of  the  pri- 
mitive church,  necessarilv  differed  from  those 


48  IIISTORV  OP  THE  CHURCH. 

of  our  time :  though  in  matters  of  only  se- 
condary importance.  The  empire  and  the 
different  kingdoms  were  distributed  into  fixed 
and  hmited  diocesses,  only  in  proportion  as  na- 
tions and  provinces  embraced  Christianity. 
But  before  imparting  it  to  the  Gentiles,  the 
first  ministers  of  the  gospel  had  to  communi- 
cate its  saving  light  to  that  portion  of  the  chil- 
dren of  Israel,  whose  eyes  were  not  obstinate- 
ly closed  against  it.  Such  was  the  progress 
of  the  apostles  and  their  co-operators  ;  and  in 
some  measure,  the  origin  of  that  apostolic  dis- 
cipline, which,  thenceforth  marked  the  dis- 
tinction between  things  of  strict  obligation, 
and  those  of  mere  counsel  or  perfection.  Of 
the  latter  kind,  was  the  entire  renunciation 
of  their  personal  property.  Sincerity  was  ri- 
gorously insisted  on,  in  all  who  made  profes- 
sion of  this  alienation  from  earthly  goods.  And 
it  was  deemed  an  act  of  mere  hypocrisy  to 
pretend  to  make  a  public  sacrifice  of  their 
property,  if,  at  the  same  time,  they  reserved 
any  part  of  it  for  their  private  use. 

Among  those  who  were  conspicuous  for  this 
detachment,  we  find  the  name  of  Joseph,  a  Le- 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  49 

vite,  originally  from  Cyprus  :  he  sold  his  estate 
and  delivered  up  the  price  of  it  to  the  apostles. 
They  gave  him  the  surname  of  Barnabas  ;  that 
is,  child  of  consolation ;  and  made  him  par- 
taker, with  themselves,  of  the  functions  and 
dignity  of  the  apostleship,  in  which  he  soon 
became  distinguished. 

Another  disciple,  named  Ananias,  under- 
took, together  with  his  wife,  Saphira,  to  de- 
ceive the  prince  of  the  apostles.  They  re- 
tained a  part  of  the  sum,  for  which  their  pro- 
perty had  been  sold ;  and  presented  the  rest  to 
be  added  to  the  common  funds.  God  reveal- 
ed the  criminal  dissimulation  to  the  head  of 
the  church  ;  and  punished  it  with  more  than 
ordinary  rigour.  The  precedent  was  neces- 
sary to  confirm  the  authority  of  the  apostles, 
and  maintain  the  purity  of  the  rising  church. 
Ananias,  said  Peter,  you  have  lied  to  God, 
and  not  to  man.  Struck  with  these  words, 
as  with  a  thunderbolt,  Ananias  fell  dead  at 
the  apostle's  feet.  Three  hom's  after,  Saphi- 
ra made  her  appearance  :  she,  unacquainted 
'with  the  fate  of  her  unfortunate  husband,  an- 
swered as  he  had  done,  to  the  questions  of  St. 

VOT-.    T. — 4. 


50  lilSTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

Peter :  and  shared  the  same  fate.  This  ter- 
rible visitation  of  the  Almighty's  anger,  pro- 
duced the  most  salutary  effects,  not  only 
among  the  faithful,  but  even  among  strangers: 
who  conceived  an  exalted  idea  of  the  power 
of  that  God,  who  thus  watched  over  and  vin- 
dicated the  glory  of  his  church. 

Numerous  and  extraordinary  wonders  were 
wrought  by  the  apostles  :  every  species  of  sick- 
ness obeyed  their  voice:  multitudes  of  maim- 
ed, or  infirm,  or  helpless  beings,  lined  the  ways 
where  Peter  passed,  and  by  virtue  of  his  very 
shadow,  were  restored  to  health  and  sound- 
ness. 

These  miracles  rapidly  augmented  the 
numbers  of  the  faithful,  and  the  carnal  Jews, 
who  still  refused  to  believe  in  a  crucified  God, 
were  unable  to  weaken  the  faith,  or  diminish 
the  fervour,  of  the  Neophytes.  The  sacrilegious 
envy  of  the  enemies  of  Christ  could  not,  how- 
ever, be  at  rest,  and  to  humble  his  followers  in 
the  public  opinion,  they  resolved  to  give  a  ju- 
dicial form  to  a  persecution,  the  most  unjust 
and  the  most  cruel.  The  principal  agents,  in 
this  cabal,  were  the  high-priest,  and  the  mem- 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  51 

bers  of  his  council.  They  seized  on  the  apos- 
tles, and  threw  them  into  prison ;  but  an  an- 
gel of  God,  during  the  night,  loosened  their 
chains,  and  they  walked  unmolested  through 
the  sentinels  that  surrounded  them.  The 
apostles,  as  their  celestial  envoy  had  directed, 
went  immediately  to  the  temple,  and  fearless- 
ly announced  the  word  of  life.  The  high- 
priest  and  council  beheld  them  with  surprise, 
and  embarrassment :  but  could  devise  no  ar- 
tifice to  cover  their  confusion.  At  length 
they  concluded  on  again  summoning  the  apos- 
tles before  them  :  when  they  appeared,  the 
high  priest  asked,  why  they  had  again,  in  con- 
tempt of  his  orders,  preached  the  divinity  of 
a  dead  man,  whom  they  pretended  to  be  the 
Christ,  the  Son  of  God  ?  Peter  answered  as 
before,  that  it  was  better  to  obey  God,  than 
man  :  and  with  more  energy  than  ever,  added 
that  Jesus  Christ,  whom  they  had  crucified,  but 
who  had  been  gloriously  raised  to  life,  was  the 
Saviour,  from  whom  all  Israel  was  to  expect 
the  pardon  and  remission  of  their  sins.  Tli^ 
courage  and  intrepid  zeal  of  Peter,  aroused 
the  jealous  indignation  of  the  hi^li  priest ;  and 


52  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

the  council  was  on  the  point  of  ac^ain  proceed- 
ing to  extremities,  against  him  and  his  col- 
leagues, when  a  venerahle  doctor,  named  Ga- 
mahel,  checked  their  fin-y  by  an  advice,  mark- 
ed ahke  with  wisdom  and  simphcity.  "  Why" 
said  he,  "  disturb  these  men  ?  if  their  under- 
taking be  a  human  one,  it  will  fall  of  itself : 
but  if  it  be  the  work  of  God,  in  vain  will  you 
oppose  it."  On  hearing  this,  their  indigna- 
tion partially  subsided.  The  apostles,  after 
being  ignominiously  scourged,  were  dismissed, 
with  a  strict  injunction  never  again  to  preach 
in  the  name  of  Jesus.  They  retired,  full  of 
joy  for  having  been  accounted  worthy  to  suf- 
fer for  the  name  of  Christ :  and,  far  from  be- 
ing intimidated,  appeared  to  breathe  an  unu- 
sual ardour,  and  preached  Christ  crucified,  not 
only  in  the  temple,  but  in  the  private  houses 
of  Jerusalem. 

The  number  of  proselytes  had  so  much  in- 
creased, that  the  apostles  were  miable  to  dis- 
charge all  the  various  functions  of  their  minis- 
try. They  were  therefore  obliged  to  choose, 
from  among  the  faithful,  seven  men,  of  irre- 
proackable  lives,  and  in  a  special  manner,  filled 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  53 

with  the  Holy  Ghost.  They  accordingly  elect- 
ed Stephen,  a  man  distinguished  for  his  ardent 
charity:  Philip,  Prochorus,  Nicanor,  Finian, 
Parmenas,  and  Nicholas.  The  apostles,  by 
the  imposition  of  hands,  conferred  on  them 
the  holy  order  of  deaconship :  to  them  was 
assigned  the  office  of  distributing  alms,  and 
administering  the  sacrament  of  the  Eucha- 
rist, in  the  different  quarters  of  Jerusa- 
lem. 

Stephen  was  soon  engaged  in  dispute  with 
the  doctors  of  the  synagogue.  The  whole 
city  admired  the  strength  of  his  reasoning; 
his  eloquence;  and  above  all,  the  miracles, 
which  he  continually  wrought  before  the  peo- 
ple. The  doctors  finding  it  impossible  to  re- 
sist the  force  of  his  arguments,  suborned  wit- 
nesses to  accuse  him  of  blasphemy.  He  was 
accordingly  arrested,  and  brought  before  the 
high  priest ;  who,  for  the  express  purpose  of 
interrogating  the  holy  deacon,  ascended  the 
tribunal.  Stephen,  appeared  with  dignity, 
and  spoke  with  freedom :  He  reproached 
them  with  the  murder  of  the  prophets ;  and 
accused  them  of  having  sacrilegiously  put  to 


54  HISTORY  OP  THE  CHURCH. 

death  the  Son  of  God.  His  discourse  fired 
the  members  of  the  synagogue  with  anger 
and  indignation :  but  Stephen  calmly  looking 
up  to  heaven,  from  whence  he  expected  his 
reward,  beheld  the  divine  humanity  of  Jesus 
Christ  at  the  right  hand  of  the  Father. — 
"Behold,  he  exclaimed:  (1)  I  see  the  heavens 
open,  and  the  Son  of  Man  standing  at  the  right 
hand  of  God."  Unable,  any  longer  to  restrain 
their  fury,  they  rushed  upon  him  in  a  body, 
without  the  formality  of  a  trial,  dragged  him 
out  of  the  city,  and  laying  down  their  gar- 
ments at  the  feet  of  a  young  man  named  Saul, 
they  stoned  him.  Saul,  at  this  period,  de- 
ceived by  the  fanaticism  and  prejudice  of  the 
Jews,  became  afterwards  the  "  vessel  of  elec- 
tion," so  conspicuous  among  the  other  apos- 
tles. His  conversion  is  attributed  to  the 
prayers  of  the  holy  martyr.  The  body  of  Ste- 
phen, contrary  to  the  custom  observed  with 
regard  to  criminals  legally  condemned,  was 
buried  by  the  pharisee  Gamaliel ;  who  after- 
wards removed  the  relic  to  a  country  mansion, 
which  he  had  built,  about  eight  leagues  from 

(1)  Acts.  vii.  55. 


HISTORY    OF    THE  CHURCH.  55 

Jerusalem ;  he  himself  was  afterwards  inter- 
red on  the  same  spot,  together  with  his  ne- 
phew, Nicodemus,  who  had  formerly  embalm- 
ed the  body  of  the  Redeemer.  The  perse- 
cution raised  against  the  faithful  in  Jerusalem, 
served  only  to  diffuse  more  widely,  the  light  of 
the  true  religion.  Whilst  the  apostles  care- 
fully guarded  the  first  converts  from  the  dan- 
ger of  seduction,  the  other  evangelical  la- 
bourers dispersed  through  those  parts  of  Pales- 
tine, more  immediately  subject  to  the  Roman 
governor,  and  soon  after  through  Phoenicia, 
Cyprus,  and  Antioch.  The  disciple  Ananias 
penetrated  even  to  Damascus ;  where  he 
founded  a  church,  composed  exclusively  of 
converted  Jews ;  for  the  gospel  had  not  yet 
been  announced  to  the  gentiles.  In  the  mean 
time,  the  faithful  were  imprisoned,  and  put  to 
death,  at  Jerusalem,  where  Saul  became 
more  furious  than  ever.  He  had  received  a 
special  commission  from  the  magistrates,  to 
do  all  manner  of  evil  to  the  Christians:  and 
he  seized  indiscriminately,  on  men  and  wo- 
men, all  of  whom  were  scourged  by  order  of 
the  synagogue. 


56  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

While  the  Jews,  dweUmg  in  Jerusalem, 
continued  blind  and  obstinate,  the  Samari- 
tans, another  portion  of  the  house  of  Israel, 
received  the  gospel  with  very  different  dispo- 
sitions. The  doctrine  of  salvation  was  an- 
nounced to  this  people  by  Philip,  one  of  the 
seven  deacons,  with  great  success,  and  con- 
firmed by  many  striking  miracles. 

At  this  period,  (I)  there  dwelt  in  Samaria 
a  man,  named  Simon  ;  a  native  of  Giton,  in 
the  same  country.  So  great  was  the  reputation 
which  he  gained  by  the  art  magic,  that  he 
was  surnamed,  "  the  virtue  of  God."  Unable 
to  resist  the  arguments  of  the  holy  Levite, 
he  pretended  to  be  a  proselyte  ;  and  desired 
to  receive  the  sacrament  of  baptism.  Mean- 
while, St.  Peter  and  St.  John  had  left,  for  a 
time,  the  brethren  of  Jerusalem,  to  adminis- 
ter confirmation  to  the  Neophytes  of  Sama- 
ria. The  gift  of  tongues,  and  of  miracles,  al- 
most invariably,  accompanied  the  reception 
of  this  sacrament.  Thinking  that  it  might 
be  purchased,  Simon  offered  a  sum  of  money 
for  this  sublime  prerogative.     But  Peter,  with 

(I)  Just.  ap.  2. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  57 

a  holy  indignation,  replied  :  "Thy  money  be 
with  thee  to  perdition."  He,  however,  ad- 
vised him  to  repent :  Simon  affected  to  do  so  ; 
but  it  appears,  that  his  repentance  was  no- 
thing more  than  a  hypocritical  humility, 
caused  by  the  presence  of  the  minister  of  the 
Lord.  The  shame  of  his  infamous  traffic  has 
remained  stigmatised  on  his  name  :  and  both 
shall  ever  be  identified  with  sacrilege.  In 
concert  with  an  infamous  prostitute  (1)  from 
Tyre,  he  broached  the  first  heresy ;  a  shock- 
ing compound  of  the  mythology  of  the  pa- 
gans, the  errors  of  the  Jews  and  Saducees, 
and  adulterated  passages  from  the  Holy  Scrip- 
ture. This  heresy,  the  first  that  ever  appear- 
ed in  the  church,  continued  till  the  close  of 
the  second  century,  when  it  was  utterly  ex- 
tinguished. 

Peace  was  still  reigning  among  the  faithful 
at  a  distance  from  Jerusalem  ;  and  the  gos- 
pel was,  every  day,  making  extensive  progress. 
Saul,  fired  with  indignation  at  its  triumph,  re- 
ceived authority  from  the  high  pontifi',  to  per- 
secute the  faithful  :  and,   immediately,  went 

(1)  Ir.  1.  1.  c.  20. 


58  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

towards  Daiii.asciis,  where  Ananias  had  per- 
suaded a  number  of  the  Israehtes  to  embrace 
the  faith.  But,  on  his  way  to  Damascus, 
Saul  was  suddenly  enveloped  in  a  celestial 
light ;  prostrated  to  the  ground,  with  all  that 
followed  him,  and  at  the  same  instant,  heard 
a  voice  saying  to  him,  in  the  Hebrew  tongue: 
"  Saul,  Saul,  why  persecutest  thou  me  ?'* 
Saul  answered,  "  Lord,  who  art  thou  ?"  I 
am,  replied  the  Saviour,  "  Jesus  of  Nazareth, 
whom  thou  persecutest.  Lord,  he  returned, 
"  what  wilt  thou  have  me  do  ?"  And  Jesus 
said  to  him :  "  go  into  the  city,  and  there  thou 
shalt  receive  my  orders.  But  know,  that,  hence- 
forth, thou  shalt  be  a  preacher  of  the  wonder 
thou  hast  witnessed ;  not  only  to  the  Jews, 
but  also  to  the  gentiles."  Saul,  (he  had  been 
struck  blind  during  this  mysterious  interview,) 
was  conducted  to  Damascus  by  his  astonish- 
ed companions,  where  he  remained,  three 
days,  in  prayer  and  meditation ;  until  Anani- 
as healed  him  of  the  twofold  blindness,  of 
soul  and  body.  After  he  was  baptized,  he 
appeared  In  the  midst  of  the  synagogue,  pro- 
claiming and  vindicating  the  divinity  of  Jesus 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  59 

Christ.  Shortly  afterwards,  he  returned  to 
Jerusalem,  where  he  spent  fifteen  days  in  the 
house  of  St.  Peter  ;  from  whom,  it  is  beheved, 
he  received  tlte  priestly  and  episcopal  ordina- 
tion ;  his  mission  having  been  already  derived 
from  Jesus  Christ  himself. 

In  the  mean  time,  Pilate  was  banished  to 
Gaul,  where,  after  a  variety  of  misfortunes, 
he  put  an  end  to  his  own  existence.  Similar 
to  his  was  the  fate  of  Antipas,  the  son  of  the 
murderer  of  the  holy  innocents.  He  was  de- 
nounced to  Caligula,  as  a  traitor,  and  an  ac- 
complice of  Sejanus,  in  the  preceding  reign. 
In  consequence  of  which,  after  the  loss  of  all 
his  property,  he  fled  with  his  wife,  the  infa- 
mous Herodias,  to  Spain,  where  they  both 
miserably  perished. 

In  the  mean  time,  Peter,  having  visited  the 
distant  churches,  greatly  augmented  the  num- 
ber of  the  proselytes,  by  his  miracles,  of  which 
two  are  peculiarly  striking,  viz  :  the  healing 
at  Lydda,  of  a  paralytic,  named  iEneas,  who 
had  been  eight  years  confined  to  his  bed  :  and 
the  raising  to  life  the  charitable  Tabitha,  at 
Joppa.     For  a  minute  narration  of  these,  as 


GO  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHUUCH. 

well  as  many  other   miracles,  the   reader  is 
referred  to  the  acts  of  the  apostles. 

At  this  epoch,  the  first  of  tlie  gentiles  was 
brought  to  the  faith,  at  Joppa,  in  the  person 
and  family  of  a  Roman  centurion,  named 
Cornelius :  In  the  midst  of  idolatry  he  had 
merited  by  the  purity  of  his  life,  and  his  sin- 
cerity in  quest  of  truth,  to  be  favoured  with 
a  vision  from  heaven :  in  which  he  was  com- 
manded to  send  for  the  prince  of  the  apostles. 
Peter,  at  the  same  time,  had  a  similar  vision: 
which  was  scarcely  over,  when  the  messen- 
gers of  Cornelius  came  to  inquire  for  him. 
He  departed  with  them  the  following  morn- 
ing; and  on  his  arrival  at  the  centurion's  house, 
instructed  him  in  the  mysteries  of  the  gos- 
pel. But  the  Holy  Ghost,  becoming  himself 
his  teacher,  conferred  on  him,  in  a  miracu- 
lous manner,  the  gift  of  tongues.  It  was  ex- 
tremely difficult  for  the  faithful  who  followed 
St.  Peter,  to  divest  themselves  of  their  pre- 
judices against  the  gentiles.  They  had, 
hitherto,  believed  them  for  ever  excluded  from 
the  church  of  God  :  but  the  vicar  of  Jesus 
Christ  felt  it  wrong  to  refuse  the  sacrament 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  61 

of  regeneration  to  him  who  had,  ah*eady,  re- 
ceived the  Holy  Ghost.  This  circumstance 
diminished  the  prejudices  of  the  converted 
Jews ;  and  offered  a  boundless  fiekl  for  the  la- 
bourers of  the  gospel,  hitherto  confined  to  the 
narrow  limits  of  Judea.  After  this  event,  the 
gospel  made  great  progress  among  the  inha- 
bitants of  Antioch,  the  capital  of  Syria,  and 
of  all  the  East.  The  two  apostles  selected 
for  the  mission  of  the  gentiles,  were  Barna- 
bas and  Paul.  Under  their  direction  the 
church  of  Antioch  became  so  flourishing,  in 
a  single  year,  that  it  was  styled  the  cradle  of 
Christianity:  it  was  there,  that  the  faithful 
first  assumed  the  name  of  Christians.   (1) 

But  while  the  gentiles  were  submitting 
with  docility  to  the  yoke  of  the  gospel,  and 
listening  to  the  voice  of  truth,  the  unhappy 
children  of  Israel,  were  accelerating,  by  their 
stubborness,  their  own  ruin,  and  reprobation. 
The  Roman  emperors,  on  whom  Judea  de- 
pended, did  not  suffer  them  to  indulge  to  its 

(1)  They  were  also  called  Fratres,  or  Brethren,  Tertul. 
Apol.C.  39;  Sancti  or  Saints,  Phil.  4  ;  Credentes  or  Be- 
lievers, FiDELEs  or  Faithful,  Eph.  1.  By  the  Jews,  they 
were  called,  through  contempt,  Nazareni.    Hier.  in  Is.  29. 


62  IllSTOIIY  OF  THE  CHURCIf. 

full  extent,  their  fury  against  the  Christians, 
whom  they  felt  it  a  duty  to  protect,  as  loyal 
and  dutiful  subjects.  But  the  rulers  of  the 
synagogue,  profiting  by  the  dispositions  of 
Herod  Antipas,  the  worthy  grand-son  of  the 
nnudererof  the  holy  innocents,  induced  him  to 
behead  St.  James,  the  son  of  Zebedee,  and  bro- 
ther of  John.  This  apostle  was  particularly 
odious  to  the  Jews ;  and  on  account  of  his 
ardent  zeal,  received  the  surname  of  "Thun- 
der." He  was  the  first  of  the  twelve  that 
sealed  the  faith  with  his  blood ;  in  his  suf- 
ferings he  exhibited  such  fortitude,  that  his 
accusers  was  converted  on  the  spot;  and, 
likewise,  received  the  crown  of  martyrdom. 
Herod,  perceiving  how  much  his  execution 
had  gratified  the  sanguinary  jealousy  of  the 
Jews,  resolved  to  sacrifice  to  their  cruelty, 
the  head  of  the  universal  church  ;  according- 
ly. Saint  Peter  was  arrested,  and  loaded  with 
chains ;  but  was  liberated  by  an  angel,  who, 
irradiated  with  light,  descended  into  the  pri- 
son, and  conducted  him  in  safety  to  the  house 
in  which  the  disciples  were  assembled.  The 
tvrant  condemned  the  guards  to  death,  on  the 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  63 

ground  of  negligence,  of  which  they  were  not 
guilty  :  and  shortly  after,  he  himself  suffered 
the  punishment  which  his  crimes  had  so  long 
deserved.  This  happened  at  Caesarea,  the 
theatre  of  his  vanity.  Having  had  some  mis- 
understanding with  the  Tyrians  and  Sido- 
nians,  (1)  he  was  compelled,  very  soon,  to  re- 
deem his  friendship  by  sequestering  (2)  the 
grain  of  the  rich  province  of  Galilee,  on  which 
a  numerous  population  depended  for  subsist- 
ence. He  was  celebrating  the  most  splendid 
games,  in  testimony  of  joy  for  the  restoration 
of  the  emperor's  health,  when  ambassadors 
from  those  nations  arrived.  On  the  second 
day  of  the  solemnity,  escorted  by  an  obsequious 
retinue  of  the  most  distinguished  Jews  and 
Romans,  he  moved  in  triumph,  to  the  theatre, 
covered  with  a  royal  mantle ;  and  took  his 
seat  on  a  throne,  sparkling  with  gold  and 
jewels,  and  began  to  address  the  assem- 
bled multitudes  ;  his  person,  of  which  he  was 
extremely  vain,  was  equal  to  his  magnificent 
decorations ;  the  people  from  every  side  ex- 
claimed, "  It  is  the  voice  of  a  God,  and  not  of 

(1)  Acts  12.     (2)  Jos.  Ant.  xix.  7. 


G  1  IIISTORV  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

ii  man!"  llorod  listciiotl  with  impious  com- 
placency to  this  profane  adulation :  but  his 
trium|)h  was  momentary  :  he  was  smitten  by 
an  angel  of  the  Lord;  lie  writhed  with  inter- 
nal excruciation ;  and  shame  and  confusion 
succeeding  to  vanity,  he  sighed  to  his  flatter- 
ers, "  Behold  your  God  about  to  expire  !'* 
He  was  carried  to  his  palace,  where  he  linger- 
ed five  days  in  the  greatest  agony,  and  at 
length  died,  devoured  by  swarms  of  vermin. 

Before  this  remarkable  event,  and  in  the  se- 
cond year  of  the  reign  of  Claudius,  who  had 
succeeded  his  nephew  Caligula  in  the  year  for- 
ty, the  prince  of  the  apostles  transferred  his 
pontifical  see,  from  Antioch,  to  Rome  ;  (1)  and 
(2)  from  this  year,  (3)  the  forty-fourth  of  the 
Christian  era,  we  are  to  date  the  five  and 
twenty  years  of  his  pontificate  assigned  him 
by  the  chronicle  of  Eusebius.  (4)     He  had  al- 

(1)  Orig.  in  Genes.  (2)  Just.  ap.  2.  (3)Hier.  do  Scrip.  Ecc. 

(4)  Euseb.  chron.  an.  44.  Of  this  great  event  there  can 
be  no  room  to  doubt,  when  we  consider  the  authorities  on 
which  it  is  grounded.  Besides  tlie  authors  already  quoted, 
we  might  adduce  among  the  Latins:  Tertullian,  de  prescrip. 
Hippolytus,  ap.  Prud.  in  Perist.  Cyprian,  de  unit.  eccl.  Ar- 
nobius,  ad  vers.  gent.  Lactantius,  lib.  4.  c.  21.  Optatus,  lib. 
2.  cont.  Parm.  Among  the  Greeks:  Papias,  ap.  Euseb.  2 
hist.  13.  Caius,  ibid  2.  24.  Chrysostom,  hom.  de  Pet.  et 
Paul.  &c.  &c.     To  these  may  be  added  Severus,  Prudentius, 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  6/» 

ready  sat  seven  years,  in  quality  of  sovereign 
pontiff  at  Antiocli ;  the  first  among  the 
churches  of  the  gentiles.  He  had  not,  how- 
ever, permanently  fixed  his  residence  in  any 
particular  place  :  having,  notwithstanding  his 
special  and  pre-eminent  character,  carried 
the  faith  into  Pontus,  and  many  other  pro- 
vinces of  Asia. 

On  his  departure  for  the  capital  of  the  world, 
where  he  was  to  fix  his  pontifical  chair,  and  es- 
tablish his  apostolic  supremacy,  he  placed 
over  the  church  of  Antioch  his  disciple  Evo- 
dius:  (1)  who  governed  that  flourishing  church 
for  five  and  twenty  years.  To  Rome,  he 
took  with  him  Mark,  and  many  other  disci- 
ples, whom  he  had  himself  instructed.  Mark 
went  from  Rome,  to  found  in  the  name  of  his 


Philastrius,  Orosius,  Prosper,  Maximus,  Peter  Chrysologus, 
Arator,  Dionysius  of  Corinth,  Peter  of  Alexandria,  Theodo- 
ret,  Sozomen,  &c.  &c.  &c.    Vide.  Spond.  ad.  ann.  44.  x. 

(1)  That  Evodius  was  made  the  successor  of  St.  Peter  in 
the  see  of  Antioch,  appears  to  be  disputed:  the  more  pro- 
bable opinion  I  have  followed;  I  found  it  on  the  authority  of 
Origin,  (Horn.  6.  in  Luc.)  Eusebius,  (in  Chron.  et  3  hist.  16.) 
and  St.  Jerome  (de  script.  Eccles.  in  Ignat.)  St.  John  Chrys- 
ostom,  in  his  Homily  de  translat.  S.  Ignat.  relates,  that  the 
first  bishop  of  Antioch,  after  S.  Peter,  was  S.  Ignatius:  but 
Ignatius  himself  writing  to  the  people  of  Antioch,  express- 
ly says,  that  Evodius  first  sat  in  the  chair  of  Antioch,  after  S. 
Peter.  Vide  Spond.  p.  55. 

VOL.  I. — 5.  * 


()6  HISTORY    OF    TflK    CHURCH. 

master,  the  church  of  Alexandria.  Such  i» 
the  origin  of  the  two  first  patriarchal  churches: 
the  one  governed  for  some  years  by  the  prince 
of  the  apostles  :  the  other  founded  under  his 
auspices,  by  one  of  his  own  disciples.  St. 
Mark  established  several  other  churches  in 
Egypt;  among  which  were  many  of  the  Thera- 
peutse,  whom  he  converted,  and  who  afterwards 
(1)  retained  their  original  apellation.  Be- 
fore entering  on  his  apostolic  commission,  St. 
Mark  passed  some  time  at  Rome,  as  interpre- 
ter to  St.  Peter.  It  was  there,  that  he  wrote 
his  gospel :  in  which,  without  confining  him- 
self to  the  order  of  time,  he  committed  to 
writing  what  he  had  heard  from  St.  Peter. 
Some  of  the  fathers,  from  tliis  circumstance, 
have  attributed  this  gospel  to  the  holy  apos- 
tle himself.  The  eulogium  pronovmced  by 
the  Son  of  God  on  his  vicar,  was  through  hu- 

(1)  Concerning  the  Therapeutae,  there  is  much  doubt  and 
obscurity:  Eusebius  lib.  2.  Hist.  Eccles.  cap.  17,  says  that 
they  are  mentioned  by  Philo  the  Jew,  and  were  Christians. 
Scaliger  in  his  work,  "De  Emmendatione  Morum"  lib.  6,  and 
Valesius  in  his  notes  on  Eusebius  lib.  2.  C.  17,  are  of  opinion 
that  they  were  Jews.  Perhaps  it  is  more  probable  that  they 
were,  indeed,  Jews,  but  living  secluded  from  the  world,  and 
practising  more  than  ordinary  austerities.  That  they  re- 
tained their  original  name,  after  their  conversion,  appears  not 
to  be  called  in  question. 


HISTORY    OP    THE    CHURCH.  67 

mility,  omitted  in  the  gospel,  while,  on  the 
contrary,  it  presents  at  full  length,  his  three- 
fold denial  of  his  divine  master.  (1)  This  gos- 
pel, according  to  the  general  opinion,  was 
written  in  Greek,  the  commercial  language 
of  all  the  East :  and  so  much  in  use,  at  Rome, 
that  even  the  women  spoke  it  with  facility. 
St.  Mark,  besides,  translated  the  first  epistle 
of  St.  Peter,  addressed  to  the  faithful  of  Pon- 
tus,  Bithynia,  and  Cappadocia.  We  discover 
in  this  epistle,  an  elevation  and  dignity,  wor- 
thy the  head  of  the  apostles. 

It  was  about  the  time  when  Saint  Peter 
transferred  his  see  to  Rome,  that  the  disper- 
sion of  the  apostles,  throughout  the  universe, 
took  place. 

Before  their  separation,  they  agreed  on  a 
symbol,  or  common  formula  of  faith  :  which 
serving  as  a  bond  of  unity,  distinguished  the 

(1)  S.  Jerome  and  S.  Augustine  were  of  opinion  that  S. 
Mark's  gospel  was  written  in  Greek:  An  ancient  work  en- 
tituled  "de  Romanis  Pontificibus,"  which  goes  under  the 
name  of  S.  Damasus,  (but  which,  according  to  Baronius,  was 
written  by  Anastasius  Bibliothecarius,)  affirms  that  St. 
Mark  wrote  in  Latin:  this  appears  to  have  been  the  common 
opinion  of  the  Greeks  and  Syrians;  which  also  is  followed 
by  S.  Gregory  of  Nazianzen.  Vide.  S.  Aug.  de  Conf.  Evang, 
lib.  1.  cap.  2.  Hier.ad  Damas.  ep.  123.  and  Greg.  Na^.  Com. 
de  quat.  Evang. 


68  HISTORY    OF    THE    CHURCH. 

faithful  believers  from  the  Jews  and  heretics. 
St.  James  the  less,  remained  at  Jerusalem  ; 
of  which  he  had  been  constituted  the  first  pas- 
tor, by  St.  Peter ;  St.  Andrew  having  preach- 
ed the  gospel  to  the  Scythians,  afterwards  re- 
turned to  Achaia,  where  he  suffered  martyr- 
dom. He  is  still  held  in  veneration  by  the 
inhabitants  of  the  country,  once  peopled 
by  the  ancient  Scythians.  St.  Philip,  after 
having  preached  in  Upper  Asia,  died  at  Hie- 
rapolis  in  Phrygia. 

It  is  uncertain  whether  like  the  rest  of  the 
apostles,  he  had  the  honour  to  shed  his  blood 
for  the  faith  which  he  so  zealously  laboured  to 
propagate.  St.  Thomas  carried  the  gospel 
into  Parthia,  and  even  to  the  Indies  ;  where 
the  Portuguese  imagined  that  they  had  dis- 
covered his  relics.  St.  Bartholomew  exercised 
his  zeal  in  Armenia  Major,  and  in  the  Western 
parts  of  India.  Thither  he  carried  the  gos- 
pel of  St.  Matthew,  the  first  written,  of  which 
he,  as  well  as  most  of  the  apostles  made  use. 
It  was,  it  is  thought,  originally  composed  in 
Hebrew ;    and    afterwards    translated    into 


HISTORY    OP    THE    CHURCH.  69 

Greek.  St.  Matthew  preached  to  the  ^Ethio- 
pians. 

St.  Simon,  called  the  Cananean,  laboured 
in  Mesopotamia  and  Persia,  St.  Jude  or 
Thaddeeus  carried  the  gospel  into  Arabia  and 
Idumea.  This  apostle  must  not  be  confoun- 
ded with  a  disciple  of  the  same  name,  who 
converted  Abgarus,  king  of  Edessa.  The 
former  Thadaeus  or  Jude,  wrote  the  epistle, 
which  goes  under  his  name,  and  which  forms 
a  part  of  the  canonical  books.  Of  the  la- 
bours of  these  illustrious  envoys  of  the  Re- 
deemer, we  can  give  no  certain,  or  detailed 
account ;  and  must  therefore  be  content  with 
the  general  narration  transmitted  to  us,  by 
the  evangelical  writers. 

Paul  and  Barnabas  were  called  by  a  special 
revelation,  to  the  mission  of  the  gentiles  :  the 
former,  in  order  to  adapt  himself  to  the  places 
in  which  he  preached,  (they  were  subject  to 
the  Roman  empire)  having  Latinized  his  name, 
(1)  they  set  out  for  Paphos,  and  after  travel- 

(1)  To  me  this  seems  the  most  probable  opinion.  TJic 
precise  cause,  however,  of  the  change  of  bis  name,  lias  not 
been  ascertained.  For  the  amusement  of  the  reader,  I  may 
be  allowed  to  enumerate  several  opinions.  St.  Ambrose  be- 
lieves that  when  he  was  baptized  by  Ananias,  he  took  the 


76  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

lin^  through  many  of  the  Grecian  islands,  and 
suffering  a  variety  of  hardships  for  the  name 
of  Jesus,  returned  to  Antioch.  Here  they 
met  with  St.  Peter,  who  had  left  Rome,  for 
reasons  of  which  we  are  ignorant ;  and  it 
was  here  that  St.  Paul,  zealously  devoted  to 
whatever  could  further  the  conversion  of  the 
gentiles,  openly  rebuked  St.  Peter  for  the 
repugnance  which  he  had  evinced  to  commu- 
nicate with  them.  In  this  aversion  to  the 
gentiles,  he  was  seconded  by  nearly  all  the 
faithful  from  Judea.  In  reproving  St.  Peter, 
Paul  merely  exercised  a  right,  with  which,  as 
an  apostle,  he  was  vested,  and  which  any 
bishop  may  claim,  even  with  regard  to  those 

name  of  Paul,  Amb.  serm.  51.  edit.  Rom.  St.  Augustine 
concurs  in  this  opinion,  and  adds:  "thathe  who  from  a  proud, 
was  converted  into  an  humble  man,  forsaking  the  name  of  a 
proud  king,  assumed  the  apellation  of  Paulus,  or  the  little: 
Pauli  quod  idem  est  ac  Parvi."  Aug.  tract.  72.  sup.  Psal. 
4.  S.  Jerom  says,  that  as  it  was  customary  for  Roman  generals 
to  adopt  the  name  of  a  conquered  people,  as  Africanus, 
Asiaticus,  &c.;  so  Saul  took  the  name  of  Paul  from  the  first 
distinguished  gentile,  whom  he  converted  in  Cyprus,  viz: 
Sergius  Paulus,  the  proconsul.  Hier.  ep.  ad.  Philem.  S.  Chry- 
sostom,  on  the  contrary  was  of  opinion  that  that  name  was 
given  him,  by  God  himself,  as  that  of  Simon  was  changed, 
by  Christ,  into  Peter.  Chrys.  de  Com.  Pauli.  The  reader 
may  weigh  these  several  opinions,  and  judge  for  himself 
Baronius  inclines  in  favour  of  that  of  St.  Ambrose  and  St. 
Augustine.     See  the  Dissertation  in  Spondan.  p.  42.  viii. 


HISTORY  OP  THE  CHURCH.  71 

who  hold  the  liighest  places  in  the  hierarchy; 
when  through  mistake  or  inadvertency,  they 
expose  the  interests  of  the  church  :  and 
when  silence  would  only  serve  to  augment  the 
evil.  To  the  admonition  of  his  inferior,  the 
prince  of  the  apostles  modestly  submitted ; 
and  retracted  a  principle  which,  not  his  own 
inclination,  but  the  fear  of  offending  the 
Jews,  had  induced  him  to  embrace. 

Of  the  disciples  who  had  come  from  Judea, 
many  continued  mitractable.  The  prince  of 
the  apostles  quitted  Antioch  for  Jerusalem : 
meanwhile,  the  dispute  between  the  Jews 
and  the  gentiles,  becoming  every  day  more 
serious,  it  was  agreed  that  the  only  means  of 
terminating  a  difference,  which  must  have 
been  productive  of  dangerous  consequences, 
would  be  to  obtain  a  solemn  decision  from 
the  apostolic  college,  with  Peter  at  its  head. 
It  was  accordingly  determined,  that  Paul  and 
Barnabas,  accompanied  by  a  few  chosen  per- 
sons of  the  opposite  opinion,  should  re- 
pair to  Jerusalem,  in  order  to  consult  the 
Holy  Spirit ;  whose  will,  as  the  Saviour  had 
promised,  should  be  made  known  through  the 
organ  of  the  chief  pastors. 


72  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

In  the  fifty-first  year  of  the  Christian  era, 
the  first  and  most  ancient  council  was  con- 
vened ;  which  has  served  as  a  model  for  all 
succeeding  councils.  Peter,  the  vicar  of  Je- 
sus Christ,  convoked  the  assembly :  it  con- 
sisted of  all  his  apostolic  colleagues,  together 
with  the  priests  and  elders.  Whether  any 
of  the  faithful  laity  were  present,  appears 
doubtful :  however,  if  there  were,  it  is  certain 
that  they  had  neither  a  decisive  voice,  nor  the 
right  of  judgment ;  for  this  prerogative  was 
attached,  by  its  divine  author,  exclusively  to 
the  apostolic  character.  The  council  ex- 
amined the  traditions,  and  maturely  delibe- 
rated :  every  one  was  at  full  liberty,  before 
the  decision  was  given,  to  express,  and  ex- 
plain, his  sentiments  :  all  evinced  a  perfect 
submission,  and  a  readiness  to  observe  and 
enforce,  the  verdict  of  the  council.  Peter 
presided:  (1)  explained  the  object  of  the  meet- 
ing :  and  first  delivered  his  opinion.  He  re- 
minded his  brethren,  how  the  Lord  had  en- 
joined him,  after  announcing  the  gospel  in 
Judea,  to  instruct  the  gentiles,  in  the  person 

(1)  Act  ap.  15. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  73 

of  Cornelius ;  whence  he  concluded :  "  That 
it  would  be  tempting  God  to  impose  on  them 
a  yoke,  which,  though  retained  through  re- 
spect or  condescension,  was  no  longer  neces- 
sary for  salvation,  even  among  the  Jews  them- 
selves." With  this  opinion,  Paul  and  Barna- 
bas coincided ;  recounting  what  the  Lord, 
had  through  their  means  effected  in  favour  of 
the  gentiles.  St.  James,  bishop  of  Jerusa- 
lem, a  church  composed  exclusively  of  Chris- 
tians of  the  circumcision,  not  only  subscrib- 
ed to  the  liberty  of  the  gentiles,  but  formally 
declared  that  such  was  his  conviction  ;  and 
that  to  him  it  appeared  strictly  conformable 
to  the  sacred  writings.  The  council  express- 
ed the  same  opinion  :  and  nothing  now  re- 
mained, but  to  make  known  the  result  to  the 
churches,  in  which  the  difference  had  origi- 
nated. The  form  of  the  decree  was  accord- 
ingly drawn  up  and  expressed  in  the  follow- 
ing terms  :  (1)  "It  hath  seemed  good  to  the 
Holy  Ghost  and  to  us,"  to  oblige  you  only  to 
those  observances,  which  we  deem  necessary, 
viz  :  to  forbid  you  the  use  of  meats,  sacrificed 

(1)  1  Act.  15. 


74  HISTORY  OP  THE  CHURCH. 

to  idols ;  tlie  blood,  the  flesh  of  strangled  ani- 
mals, and  fornication.  Although  the  last 
mentioned  crime  was  forbidden  by  the  law  of 
nature,  yet  in  consequence  of  the  corruptions 
of  paganism,  which  had  so  obscured  the  light 
of  reason,  it  became  almost  necessary  to  re- 
new the  prohibition,  in  a  formal  and  positive 
manner.  The  church  of  Antioch  received  with 
profound  respect,  the  apostolic  letters:  and 
universal  tranquillity  and  satisfaction  ensued. 
After  harmony  had  been  restored  to  the 
church  of  Antioch,  St.  Paul  left  his  favourite 
city  to  visit  the  churches,  which  he  had  found- 
ed, and  to  ascertain,  what  fruits  had  been 
produced  by  the  seed  which  he  himself  had 
sown.  He  travelled  through  Syria  and  Cili- 
cia :  it  is  believed,  that  during  this  journey, 
he  associated  to  the  ministry,  his  relative,  St. 
Luke ;  who,  at  this  epoch,  makes  his  appear- 
ance, for  the  first  time,  in  the  acts  of  the  apos- 
tles ;  of  these  acts,  he  himself  is  the  author* 
He  was  a  physician  of  Antioch,  of  some 
learning,  and  wrote  more  purely,  than  the  other 
apostles.  His  affection  for  St.  Paul  was  un- 
alterable :  his  gospel  like  that  of  St.  Mark, 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  75 

comprises  the  particulars  which  he  had  learn- 
ed from  his  Master ;  and  so  faithful  was  the 
copy,  that  the  apostle,  instructed  by  our  Lord 
himself,  after  his  ascension,  adopted  the  work 
and  refers  to  it  in  his  epistles,  under  the  ap- 
pellation of  his  own  gospel.  (1) 

St.  Paul,  having  seen  in  a  vision,  a  Mace- 
donian, inviting  him  to  preach  the  gospel  to 
his  countrymen,  embarked  at  Troas,  and  ar- 
rived at  Phillippi ;  where,  as  we  learn  from 
the  acts  of  the  apostles,  he  gained  over  many 
distinguished  proselytes.  From  Phillippi,  he 
proceeded,  after  some  stay,  to  Athens.  This 
city,  once  the  most  powerful  in  Greece,  re- 
tained few  vestiges  of  its  pristine  greatness, 
except  the  cultivation  of  the  arts,  and  an  ex- 
traordinary thirst  for  the  refinements  of  lite- 
rature and  philosophy.  Of  this  place,  the 
two  leading  sects  were  the  stoics  and  epicu- 
reans :  with  these  St.  Paul  was  soon  engaged 


(1)  The  opinion,  that  S.  Paul  alludes  to  the  gospel  of  S. 
Luke  when  he  says,  "  according  to  my  gospel,"  1  Tim.  2. 
is  founded  on  the  authority  of  Tertullian  and  S.  Jerome. 
(Tert.  cont.  Marc.  lib.  4.  Hier.  de  script.  Eccles.  in  Luc.) 
It  was  to  refute  the  fables  disseminated  through  Greece  by 
Cerinthus,  Merinthus,  and  such  heresiarchs,  that  S.  Luke 
composed  his  gospel.  This  is  the  general  opinion  of  the 
fathers:  of  S.  Ambrose,  venerable.  Bede.  S.  Epiphanius,  &c. 


76  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

ill  dispute.  The  novelty  of  his  doctrines, 
and  the  knowledge  which  he  displayed,  ex- 
cited their  curiosity,  as  well  as  admiration : 
that  they  might  hear  him  more  at  length, 
they  conducted  him  to  the  Areopagus  :  The 
apostle,  standing  in  this  august  assembly, 
which  was  considered  the  oracle  of  all  Greece, 
thus  addressed  them  :  Athenians,  in  passing 
through  your  city,  I  every  where  observed, 
that  your  superstition  distinguished  you  from 
all  other  nations.  Noticing  the  several  ob- 
jects of  your  rehgious  veneration,  I  found  one 
altar  having  these  words  inscribed  on  it,  '  to 
THE  UNKNOWN  GOD.'  What  therefore  you 
worship  without  knowing,  that  do  I  preach 
to  you.  He  then  spoke  of  the  creation  of 
the  world ;  the  crimes  in  which  mankind 
were  immerged  ;  the  general  judgment  and 
resurrection  of  the  dead.  At  first,  he  was 
listened  to  with  attention  ;  but  when  he  came 
to  speak  of  the  resurrection  of  the  dead, 
some  derided  his  doctrine  :  others  exclaimed 
that  he  had  said  enough  for  the  present,  that 
they  would  take  another  opportunity  to  hear 
iiim  farther,  on  the  same  subject.     We  are  in- 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  77 

formed  of  two  only,  who  were  converted  on 
this  occasion :  Denis,  one  of  the  judges  of 
the  Areopagus,  who  afterwards  became  bish- 
op of  Athens,  and  a  woman,  whose  name  was 
Damaris. 

Immediately  after  this,  Paul  went  to  Co- 
rinth ;  the  most  flourishing  city  of  Greece, 
since  the  decay  of  Athens  and  Lacedsemon ; 
and  abounding  with  all  the  luxuries  of  life. 
St.  Paul  remained  there  eighteen  months  ; 
announcing  the  gospel  in  the  synagogue,  and 
to  the  more  docile  gentiles.  The  Jews  of  this 
city  evinced  such  obduracy,  that,  according  to 
the  counsel  of  the  Saviour,  Paul  shook  the 
dust  from  his  feet,  as  a  testimony  against 
them ;  and  from  that  moment,  turned  his 
whole  attention  to  the  gentiles.  These  af- 
forded him  great  consolation ;  and  he  con- 
tinued subsisting  by  the  labour  of  his  own 
hands  at  Corinth ;  where  he  wrote  his  epis- 
tle to  the  Thessalonians.  This  body  of  the 
faithful,  constituted  one  of  the  fairest  portions 
of  the  rising  church ;  his  first  epistle  testifies 
the  joy  which  he  felt  in  witnessing  the  fer- 
vour of  their  faith  and  piety.     The  second 


78  HISTORY  or  THE  CHURCH. 

epistle  was  written  to  console  them  for  the 
grief  they  had  conceived  at  his  first  letter, 
which  they  interpreted  in  a  sense  very  dif- 
ferent from  that,  which  the  apostle  had  in- 
tended to  convey.  The  epistles  of  St.  Paul 
are  ranged  in  the  sacred  volume,  according 
to  the  rank  held  by  the  churches  to  which 
they  were  addressed  ;  but  the  two  written  to 
the  Thessalonians,  are  the  first  in  the  order 
of  time.  To  abridge  them  would  be  to  di- 
minish their  beauty ;  and  the  historian  can 
only  refer  those  who  are  desirous  of  perusing 
them,  to  the  sacred  text  itself. 

St.  Paul,  having  departed  from  Corinth,  and 
visited  many  of  the  churches  which  he  had 
founded  in  Asia,  at  length  arrived  at  Ephesus ; 
where  he  remained  from  the  fifty-fourth,  till 
the  fifty-seventh  year  of  the  Christian  era. 
Ephesus  was  the  most  commercial  city  of 
Asia  Minor ;  the  residence  of  a  proconsul, 
and  famous  for  the  temple  of  Diana,  whose 
magnificence,  and  pompous  ceremonies  at- 
tracted the  attention  of  the  curious,  from 
every  quarter  of  the  world.  To  preach  the 
religion  of  the  Son  of  God  at  Ephesus,  was 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  79 

therefore  to  announce  it  to  the  whole  conti- 
nent of  Asia,  and  to  all  the  Grecian  islands. 
The  zeal  of  the  holy  apostle  was  quickened 
at  the  prospect  of  so  abundant  a  harvest ; 
he  entered  on  this  mission  with  his  wonted 
courage ;  preached  and  exercised  the  gift  of 
miracles,  with  great  success.  The  Ephesians 
were  given  to  magic ;  but  all  who  were  convert- 
ed, delivered  up  their  books  on  that  subject, 
which  were  publicly  burned,  to  the  value  of 
fifty  thousand  pieces  of  silver. 

From  this  city,  St.  Paul  wrote  his  first  epis- 
tle to  the  Corinthians.  The  object  of  which 
was  to  remove  some  scandals,  which  had  found 
their  way  amongst  them:  he  severely  re- 
proaches them  with  the  profanation  of  the 
holy  eucharist.  He  tells  them,  in  the  most 
forcible  language,  that  they  distinguished  not 
the  bread  of  angels  from  ordinary  food  ;  and 
that  by  receiving  unworthily,  the  body  and 
blood  of  Jesus  Christ,  they  ate  and  drank 
their  "  own  condemnation."  These  expres- 
sions of  the  apostle,  are  so  precise,  so  ener- 
getic, and  so  terrible,  that  he  never  would  have 
made  use  of  them  if  the  bread,  thus  profaned 


80  HISTORY   OF  THE   CHUUCH. 

were  not,  in  reality,  the  llesli  of  Jesus 
Christ ;  and  it  is  violating  all  the  received 
usages  of  language,  to  distort  them  into  a 
figurative  sense.  Even  in  this  fervent  church 
which  he  had  fostered  with  so  nuich  care,  and 
"  solicitude"  were  to  be  found  some  shame- 
ful vices,  at  which  even  the  pagans  themselves 
had  reason  to  be  scandalized.  Among  others, 
that  of  the  incestuous  man  living  in  a  criminal 
connexion  with  his  father's  wife,  is  peculiarly 
marked  :  The  apostle  commanded,  that  de- 
generate Christian  to  be  given  over  to  Satan, 
"  for  the  salvation  of  his  soul ;"  that  is,  to  be 
excluded  for  a  time,  from  the  communion  of 
the  faithful ;  so  that,  humbled  by  his  fall  and 
punishment,  he  might  have  recourse  to  hea- 
ven for  forgiveness  :  and  by  his  rigorous  pen- 
ance, deserve  to  be  re-admitted  among  the 
brethren.  The  Christian  reader  is  afflicted, 
and  the  infidel  rejoices,  at  meeting  with  such 
an  example  of  corruption  in  the  most  fervent 
times,  and  in  one  of  the  most  flourishing  of 
the  apostolic  churches. 

But  we  have  much  more  reason  to  be  as- 
tonished at  the  change,  which  was  so  sud- 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  81 

denly  effected  among  men,  born  and  educated 
in  the  midst  of  crimes ;  and  at  the  eminent 
sanctity  to  which  most  of  them  attained,  un- 
der the  instructions  of  the  great  apostle  of 
the  gentiles. 

This  sentiment  of  wonder  will  be  still 
more  increased,  if  we  reflect,  that  Corinth, 
at  this  era,  presented  a  scene  of  lewdness 
and  debauch,  unparalleled  in  the  annals  of  pa- 
gan history.  A  thousand  female  slaves  were 
publicly  devoted  to  the  worship  of  Venus. 
To  that  impure  goddess,  the  whole  city  was 
dedicated;  (1)  and  yet  this  reformer  did  not 
confine  his  instructions  to  the  essential  laws 
of  conjugal  fidelity,  he  conducted  them  to 
the  highest  perfection  of  virginal  and  Chris- 
tian purity.  In  a  word,  the  first  epistle  to  the 
Corinthians,  is  a  model  of  the  most  active 
and  enlightened  zeal  :  severity,  tempered 
with  mildness  ;  reproof  with  encouragement; 
and  pastoral  solicitude  with  paternal  tender- 
ness. 

But  while  St.  Paul  was  thus  employed  in 
preaching  the  name,  and  diffusing  the  spirit 

(l)Strab.  1.  8.  Athen.  1.  13. 

VOL.  I. — 6. 


82  HISTORY  OF  THE   CHURCH- 

of  Jesus  Christ,  the  infernal  powers  attempt- 
ed to  raise  up  a  rival  not  only  to  the  apostle, 
but  even  to  his  adorable  Master.  This  was 
the  famous  Apollonius  Tyanoeus,  the  most 
illustrious  advocate  of  paganism  and  profane 
philosophy.  His  (I)  birth  was  noble ;  his 
genius  transcendant;  the  powers  of  his  me- 
mory unexampled.  He  was  skilled  in  all  the 
arts  and  sciences  of  Greece,  and  to  the  em- 
bellishments of  his  mind  were  added  the  ex- 
terior advantages  of  a  tall  and  dignified  sta- 
ture, and  a  countenance  of  more  than  hu- 
man comliness.  He  professed  the  severe 
philosophy  of  Pythagoras,  and  affected  the 
most  rigorous  austerity  of  manners.  With 
all  his  zeal  or  affected  wisdom,  he  testified  an 
extreme  devotion  to  the  popular  worship  of 
the  gods.  He  came  to  Ephesus  in  the  be- 
ginning of  the  reign  of  Nero,  and  practised 
a  thousand  crafty  impositions,  which  the  cre- 
dulous multitude  mistook  for  so  many  un- 
doubted miracles.  The  test  by  which  such 
pretended  miracles  can  be  established,  is  that 
which  the   Son  of  God  himself  has  given  us; 

(1)  Philostr.  1.  1  et  seq. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  83 

**  by  their  fruits,  you  shall  know  them."  Were 
they  wrought  to  disseminate  the  truth  ;  or  to 
increase  the  blindness  and  follies  of  man- 
kind ? 

But  who  can  vouch  for  the  authenticity  of 
the  facts,  recorded  in  the  life  of  the  apostle 
of  paganism  ?  It  was  written  by  Damis, 
who  associated  himself  to  Apollonius  in  the 
East;  one  of  those  disciples,  whom  Lucian 
stigmatizes,  as  unworthy  the  least  respect. 
Even  this  work  is  lost ;  and  all  that  remains 
isian  indigested  fragment,  which  the  sophist 
Philostratus  gathered  from  hearsay,  to  gratify 
the  prejudices  of  queen  Julia,  the  avowed 
enemy  of  the  Christian  name.  However,  the 
fact  may  be,  the  prophet  of  idolatory  was 
forced  to  yield  to  the  apostle  of  Christ :  and 
the  work  of  the  living  God  subsists  to  this 
day,  in  the  very  place,  where,  after  two  centu- 
ries, the  name  of  Apollonius  was  forgotten. 

St.  Paul  was  at  Macedonia  when  he  heard 
of  the  good  effect,  produced  by  his  first  epis- 
tle to  the  Corinthians ;  he  wrote  them  a  se- 
cond, to  comfort  them  in  their  affliction,  which 
his  reproof  had  occasioned  :  and  in  consider- 


84  HISTORY  OP  THE  CHURCH. 

atiou  of  his  penance,  absolved  the  incestuous 
man.  The  apostle  was  pleased  to  remit,  in 
his  favour  the  severity  of  the  penitential  in- 
stitutions :  and  by  this  judicious  clemency,  to 
save  the  sinner  from  despair. 

Some  time  after  writing  his  second  epistle, 
St.  Paul  revisited  the  church  of  Corinth.  He 
spent  the  winter  in  that  city,  to  console  the 
children  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  re-established 
in  its  perfection,  their  former  discipline. 
From  thence,  he  addressed  an  epistle  to  the 
Romans,  while  preparing  to  visit  the  faithful 
of  Judea,  with  the  charitable  contributions 
which  he  had  obtained  for  them,  in  Achaia 
and  Macedonia.  This  epistle  was  written  in 
Greek ;  and  translated  into  Latin  by  Tertus. 
Its  object  was  to  remove  the  differences  that 
had  taken  place  between  the  gentiles  and  the 
Israelites.  The  gentiles  he  humbled ;  by 
shewing  them  the  pusillanimity  and  duplicity 
of  their  philosophers,  who  knowing  the  true 
God,  from  the  light  of  nature,  had  not  dared 
to  honour  him  as  such ;  and  the  frightful  and 
unnatural  crimes  to  which,  in  punishment  of 
their  pride,  and  their  adherence  to  the  folHes 


HISTORY    OF    THE  CHURCH.  85 

of  paganism,  they  had  been  abandoned  by 
Ahnighty  God.  The  Jews  he  reminded  of 
their  obstinate  resistance  to  those  heavenly 
favours,  which  had  been  gratuitously  confer- 
red on  them  :  and  lest  they  should  be  puffed 
up  by  the  great  benefits  which  distinguished 
them,  as  a  chosen  people,  from  the  rest  of 
mankind,  he  proves  to  them,  that  these  graces 
were  to  be  attributed  to  the  pure  and  unmerit- 
ed goodness  of  an  all-wise  God,  and  not  to 
the  faithful  observance  of  the  old  law. 

It  was  about  this  same  time  also,  that  St. 
Paul  wrote  his  epistle  to  the  Galatians,  a  por- 
tion of  the  faithful,  remarkable  for  their  fer- 
vour ;  but  whose  simplicity  had  been  imposed 
on  by  certain  false  teachers,  the  object  of 
whose  schismatical  mission,  was  not  so  much 
to  propagate  the  gospel  as  to  keep  up  the 
ceremonial  law,  the  necessity  of  which  they 
ceased  not  to  inculcate.  The  apostle  re- 
futes the  doctrine  of  these  seducers;  and  re- 
pels the  calumnies  which  they  had  diffused, 
against  his  mission  and  apostleship. 

When  St.  Paul  perceived,  from  the  flourish- 
ing condition   of  the  Grecian  churches,  that 


86  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

his  personal  residence  among  them,  was  no 
longer  necessary,  he  departed  with  the  alms 
which  had  been  collected  for  the  faithful  in 
Palestine.  Mindful  on  his  way,  of  the  dan- 
gers to  which  his  zeal  for  the  gospel  was 
likely  to  expose  his  beloved  disciple  Timothy, 
whom  he  had  made  bishop  of  Ephesus,  he 
sent  him  those  divine,  and  evidently  inspired 
instructions,  contained  in  his  first  epistle,  for 
the  wise  and  prudent  government  of  the 
house  of  God.  This  epistle  is  considered  as 
the  basis  of  ecclesiastical  discipline.  It  com- 
prehends a  complete  abridgement  of  the  du- 
ties of  a  bishop  :  of  those  of  all  orders  of 
the  clergy ;  and  even  of  the  different  condi- 
tions among  the  simple  faithful. 

The  epistle  to  Titus  was  written  some 
time  after  that  to  Timothy  :  and  as  both  were 
charged  with  the  same  offices,  we  find  nearly 
the  same  instructions  conveyed  in  each.  St. 
Paul  permits  Titus  to  raise  married  men  to 
the  priesthood,  on  account  of  the  difficulty  of 
finding,  especially  among  the  Cretans,  men, 
who  had  lived  to  an  advanced  age  in  celibacy: 
but  he  always  required,  that  they  should  be 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  87 

the  husband  of  only  one  wife :  as  we  can  find 
nothing  in  the  writings  of  St.  Paul  to  afford 
a  reasonable  presumption,  that  he  had  dis- 
pensed with  the  discipline  of  the  church,  in 
favour  of  the  Cretans,  we  must  conclude  that 
the  sacred  ministers  of  the  flock,  entrusted 
to  the  care  of  Titus,  lived  with  their  wives, 
after  ordination,  as  with  their  sisters ;  and 
that,  to  have  acted  otherwise,  would  have 
brought  on  them  the  censures  and  odium  of 
the  other  churches. 

St.  Paul,  even  on  his  journey,  forgot  not, 
as  St.  Chrysostom  remarks,  the  respect  due 
to  the  great  festivals :  and  accordingly  re- 
paired to  Phillippi  to  celebrate  the  solemn 
feast  of  the  pasch,  or  caster.  After  six  days, 
during  which  the  feast  of  the  azymes,  or  un- 
leavened bread,  continued,  he  embarked,  with 
St.  Luke,  and  arrived,  in  five  days,  at  Troas ; 
where  the  faithful  were  expecting  him,  to  re- 
ceive his  instructions  and  celebrate  the  holy 
mysteries.  ^According  to  the  narration  given  of 
his  voyage  by  the  sacred  writers,  we  find  that 
the  faithful  had  already  begun  to  sanctify  the 
first  day  of  the  week,  or  Sunday.     As  the  fes- 


8§  HISTORY    OF    THE    CHURCH. 

tival  commenced  on  the  evening  of  the  pre- 
ceding day,  there  was  a  number  of  lamps 
Hghted,  as  well  to  dispel  the  darkness,  as  to 
add  solemnity  to  the  holy  sacrifice.  (1)  From 
Troas,  St.  Paul  proceeded  to  J  erusalem  ;  oc- 
casionally stopping  to  visit  the  churches  on  his 
way ;  experiencing  marks  of  the  tenderest 
attachment ;  and  witnessing  scenes  of  the 
most  affecting  nature.  The  faithful  clung 
round  his  neck  and  wept  bitterly  at  parting 
with  him :  nothing,  however,  could  shake  the 
resolution  which  he  had  taken,  to  propagate 
the  gospel,  and  suffer  for  the  name,  of  Jesus 
Christ.  His  holy  companions  participated  in 
the  same  sentiments :  and  he  departed  with 
them  from  Csesarea,  his  last  resting  place,  in 
order  to  reach  Jerusalem  before  the  feast  of 
Pentecost,  which  he  wished  to  celebrate  in 
the  holy  city.  All  the  faithful,  with  the  holy 
bishop,  St.  James,  at  their  head,  received 
him,  on  his  arrival ;  and  informed  him  of  the 
hatred,  which  his  fellow  citizens  had  con- 
ceived  against  him.  Nothing,  however,  could 
prevent    the    generous  apostle  from  visiting 

(1)  See  Appendix  to  the  first  age. 


HISTORY  OP'  THE  CHURCH.  89 

the  several  quarters  of  the  city,  and  adminis- 
tering reUef  to  the  afflicted.  He  was,  on  all 
occasions,  accompanied  by  the  deputies  whom 
he  had  brought  with  him  from  the  Eastern 
churches  :  and  among  the  foreign  Jews  who 
had  lately  come  to  Jerusalem,  there  were 
some  Ephesians,  who  recognized  their  coun- 
tryman, Trophimus,  among  the  followers  of 
the  holy  apostle.  They  took  their  resolution 
on  the  spot :  and  only  waited  a  favourable 
moment  to  carry  it  into  execution.  Meeting 
St.  Paul  in  the  temple,  they  fell  upon  him, 
and  with  brutal  violence,  dragged  him  out  of 
the  holy  place,  lest  they  might  stain  its  pave- 
ment w  ith  his  blood.  The  apostle  must  have 
sunk  under  their  repeated  blows,  had  not  the 
commander  of  a  Roman  cohort,  which  kept 
guard  round  the  temple,  rescued  him  from 
their  fury.  The  tumult  increasing,  the  tri- 
bune caused  him  to  be  conducted  to  the  cita- 
del. From  the  steps  that  led  to  it,  and  which 
were  crowded  with  the  infuriated  populace, 
Paul  asked  permission  to  address  the  people. 
It  was  granted  :  but  such  were  the  clamours 
of  the  fanatical  multitudes  below,  that  Lycias 


90  HISTORY  OP  TlfE  CHURCH. 

(this  was  the  name  of  the  tribune,)  forced 
him  to  retire  into  the  castle.  To  gratify  the 
Jews,  Lycias  condemned  the  apostle  to  be 
scourged,  and  put  to  the  torture  :  every  thing 
was  prepared,  when  Paul  demanded  of  the 
centurion,  who  was  to  preside  at  the  execu- 
tion, whether  it  was  lawful  to  scourge  a  Ro- 
man citizen  ?  The  centurion  instantly  went 
to  the  tribune,  and  informed  him  of  what 
Paul  had  said.  Lycias  returned,  heard  the 
saint  repeat,  and  prove,  that  he  was,  by  birth, 
a  Roman  citizen.  The  executioners  were 
alarmed ;  and  immediately  unbound  the  pri- 
soner. The  following  day,  the  council  of  the 
Jews  was  convoked:  and  St.  Paul,  conducted 
by  Lycias,  into  the  midst  of  the  assembly. 
He  had  scarcely  begun  to  speak,  when  the 
high  priest  Ananias,  treating  the  disciple  as 
he  had  formerly  done  the  master,  command- 
ed him  to  be  struck  on  the  face.  "  The  Lord 
shall  strike  thee,  thou  whited  wall,"  replied 
the  apostle,  not  knowing  him  to  be  the  high 
priest.  But  when  informed  of  it,  he  repaired 
his  involuntary  fault  upon  the  spot :  and  ren- 
dered to  the  chair  of  Moses,  the  respect  which 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CHURCH.  91 

it  deserved.  The  Saducees  offended  at  tlie 
conclusion  of  Paul's  discourse,  relating  to  the 
future  resurrection,  which  they  disbelieved, 
formed  a  conspiracy  to  assassinate  him ;  but 
his  nephew,  having  informed  the  tribune  of 
their  intention  :  the  apostle  was  sent,  during 
the  night,  to  Caesarea,  under  a  strong  guard 
of  Roman  soldiers.  Felix,  the  governor 
treated  the  holy  apostle  with  respect :  not  to 
incur,  at  once,  the  displeasure,  and  expose 
himself  to  the  malice  of  the  Jews,  who  had 
followed  the  object  of  their  fury  from  Jerusa- 
lem, he  put  off  from  day  today,  the  investiga- 
tion of  the  matter.  In  the  mean  time,  at  the 
request  of  his  wife,  Drusilla,  (1)  he  had  many 
private  conferences  with  St.  Paul. 

Drusilla,  being  of  the  Jewish  religion,  seem- 
ed desirous  of  bringing  over  Felix  to  the  same 
belief.  But  when  the  apostle  spoke  of  the 
general  judgment,  and  painted  in  lively  co- 
lours, the  terrible  chastisements,  reserved  for 
those  who  had  infringed  the  sacred  laws  of 
justice,  and  chastity,  Felix  turned  pale  on  his 

(1)  Drusilla  had  divorced  her  legitimate  husband,  Asis, 
king  of  Emesa,  and  married  Felix,  who,  though  a  mere  ple- 
beian, was  honoured  with  the  confidence  of  the  emperor. 


92  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

tribunal ;  and  so  great  was  his  terror,  that  he 
requested  St.  Paul  to  be  silent  for  the  present, 
saying,  that  he  would  take  another  occasion 
to  hear  him.  Felix  resisted  the  first  grace  ; 
and  was  never  after  converted.  Two  years 
passed  ;  and  Felix  was  succeeded  by  Fortius 
Festus,  who  was  immediately,  solicited  by 
the  high  priest  Ananias,  and  other  Jews,  to 
send  back  the  prisoner  to  Jerusalem  :  but  St. 
Paul,  aware  of  the  abuse  which  the  syna- 
gogue would  make  of  their  authority,  appeal- 
ed to  Caesar  :  his  appeal  was  admitted  by  the 
governor  :  and  nothing  now  remained,  but  to 
transfer  the  prisoner  to  Italy.  St.  Luke  who 
had  always  accompanied  him,  and  Aristarchus 
of  Thessalonica,  one  of  the  deputies,  who 
brought  the  contributions  made  in  Greece 
and  Asia,  for  the  relief  of  the  faithful  in  Judea, 
who  had  associated  himself  to  St.  Paul,  with 
singular  fidelity,  embarked  with  the  suffering- 
apostle.  The  passage  was  long,  and  tem- 
pestuous: St.  Paul  earnestly  advised  the 
commander  of  the  vessel,  to  discontinue,  for 
a  time,  the  voyage ;  his  advice  was  scorned ; 
but  they  soon  had  reason  to  repent  it.     A  vio- 


HISTORY  OF  THE   CHURCH.  93 

lent  storm  arose  :  the  heavens,  for  several 
days,  were  shrouded  in  dark  clouds :  the  sea 
was  unusually  agitated :  and  after  throwing 
overboard  the  merchandise,  they  were  com- 
pelled to  abandon  the  vessel  to  the  mercy  of 
the  waves.  Whilst  they  were  thus  oscilla- 
ting between  life  and  death,  the  Lord  reveal- 
ed to  his  servant,  that  the  vessel  should  be 
lost ;  but  none  on  board  should  perish  :  the 
prediction  animated  the  spirits  of  the  des- 
ponding crew.  It  was  verified  soon  after  by 
the  safe  arrival  of  the  passengers,  (the  vessel 
having  been  cast  away)  on  the  island  of  Malta. 
The  Maltese,  sympathising  with  their  misfor- 
tunes, kindled  a  fire  to  warm  their  frozen 
limbs :  St.  Paul,  whose  benevolence  and 
charity  were  ever  active,  was  gathering  fag- 
gots, when  a  viper,  concealed  under  them,  fas- 
tened on  his  hand,  and  remained  suspended. 
The  islanders,  feeling  that  horror  for  guilt, 
which  is  impressed,  by  the  law  of  nature,  on 
the  heart  of  every  human  creature,  and  which 
nothing  can  efface,  imagined  that  he  was 
some  criminal  wretch  whom  the  vengeance  of 
heaven  pursued,   even  after  his  escape  from 


94  lilSTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

shipwreck.     8t.  Paul  sliook  the  viper  into  the 
flames :  while  they  expected  each  moment, 
to  see  him  swell  and  fall  dead  before  them. 
But  such  not  being  the  consequence,  passing 
from  one  extreme  to  another,  they  imagined 
that  he  was  a  God.     Publius,  one  of  the  most 
distinguished  men  of  the  island,  dwelt  near 
the   spot  where   this  extraordinary  circuni- 
stance  had  taken  place  :  wishing  to  entejrtain 
the  friend  of  heaven,   he  invited  him  to  his 
house ;  and,  during  three  days,  left  nothing 
undone  to  relieve  his  necessities,  and  those  of 
his  companions  :  his  generous  hospitality  was 
not  left  unrewarded :    St.    Paul  restored  to 
health  and  vigour,  the  father  of  Publius,  who 
had  been  reduced  to  the  last  extremity,  by  a 
dysentery,  and  a  burning  fever.     The  fame  of 
the  miracle   soon   spread  through  the  whole 
island  :  and  multitudes  of  sick  persons  collect- 
ed round  the  apostle  ;  all  of  whom  he  healed, 
without  distinction.    These  miraculous  cures, 
while  they  disposed  the  hearts  of  the  island- 
ers to  receive  the  faith,  greatly  enhanced  the 
authority  and  credit  of  the  apostle,  almost  on 
the  confines  of  Italy.     The  end  of  their  voy- 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  95 

age  was  as  prospeious  as  its  commencement 
Lad  been  unfortunate  :  the  apostle  landed  at 
Puzzoli,  in  the  territory  of  Naples,  with  the 
view  of  prosecuting  the  remainder  of  his  jour- 
ney  by  land.  By  the  Christian  inhabitants, 
he  was  welcomed  with  the  liveliest  demon- 
strations of  respect,  and  affection:  many  of 
them  accompanied  him  even  to  his  journey's 
end  :  and  their  numbers  increased,  the  near- 
er he  approached  the  place  of  his  destination. 

The  faithful  of  the  city  of  Rome,  filled  with 
gratitude  for  the  letters  which  they  had  re- 
ceived from  him,  and  the  happy  effects  they 
had  produced,  came  out  to  meet  him  ;  some 
the  distance  of  thirty,  others  even  of  fifty 
leagues.  Thus,  about  the  beginning  of  May, 
in  the  year  59,  he  arrived,  in  a  kind  of  tri- 
umph, at  the  capital  of  the  empire;  the  see 
of  the  head  of  the  church  :  and  the  metropo- 
lis of  the  whole  Christian  world. 

It  was  customary,  at  Rome,  to  allow  certain 
prisoners  the  liberty  of  the  city,  at  least  du- 
ing  the  night,  but  chained  and  watched  by  a 
soldier ;  this  favour  was  not  refused  to  St. 
Panl :  he  passed  two  years  in   this  manner. 


96  HISTORY    OF    THE    CHtRCH. 

He  was  not  desirous  of  farther  liberty,  than 
was  necessary  for  the  preaching  of  the  gos- 
pel. We  find,  on  the  contrary  in  the  differ- 
ent epistles  which  he  addressed  to  the  faith- 
ful from  Rome,  that  he  esteemed  himself  hap- 
py in  his  chains,  provided  he  could  labour  in 
the  propagation  of  the  true  religion.  After 
convening  an  assembly  of  the  principal  Jews, 
dwelling  in  the  city,  he  informed  them  of  the 
nature  of  his  appeal  to  Csesar,  and  convinced 
them,  that  in  taking  this  necessary  step,  no- 
thing was  more  foreign  from  his  intentions, 
than  to  injure  the  Jewish  nation,  or  even  the 
most  undeserving  of  his  brethren.  They  ad- 
mitted his  justification  :  and  requested  him 
to  appoint  a  day  for  the  discussion  of  their 
religious  differences.  To  this  he  cheerfully 
consented  :  on  the  appointed  day,  he  treated 
the  question  of  the  Redeemer's  coming ; 
analysed,  and  expatiated  on  the  several  pro- 
phecies relating  to  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  at  such 
length,  that  his  discourse  continued  from 
morning  till  evening.  Of  the  Jews  many  were 
converted  :  but  the  greater  number  grew  only 
the  more  obstinate ;  this  induced  St.  Paul  to 


HISTORY  OP  THE  CHURCH.  97 

take  the  resolution  to  extend  the  Hght  of  truth 
to  those,  who  were  more  disposed  to  profit 
by  it.  He  did  so :  and  proselytes,  without 
number,  were  added  to  the  communion  of  the 
faithful.  It  is  to  the  evangelist  St.  Luke,  we 
are  indebted  for  this  information  concerning 
the  apostle  of  the  gentiles. 

In  the  acts  of  the  apostles,  he  dwells  with 
peculiar  complacency,  on  the  labours  of  his 
Master  :  the  Holy  Ghost,  by  whom  the  Sacred 
Narrative  was  inspired,  left  our  curiosity,  re- 
specting the  other  apostles,  unsatisfied ;  pre- 
senting in  the  person  of  St.  Paul,  abundant 
matter  for  instruction  and  imitation.  As 
for  St.  Luke  himself,  he  preached  the  faith  in 
Gaul,  Italy,  and  Macedonia,  passed  his  whole 
life  in  celibacy,  and  died  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
four  years,  in  Achaia. 

The  Jews,  disappointed  in  their  attempts 
on  the  life  of  St.  Paul,  in  the  city  of  Jerusa- 
lem, directed  their  fury  against  St.  James,  the 
bishop  of  that  city,  and  in  the  interval  be- 
tween the  departure  of  Festus,  and  the  ar- 
rival of  his  successor  Albinus,  the  priests  and 
leading   men   summoned   St.  James   before 

VOL.  T. 7. 


9$  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

the  Sanhedrim.  Aimnus,  son  of  the  infa- 
mous Annas,  and  brother-in-law  to  Caiphas, 
was  the  master-spring  of  this  resolution :  To 
compass,  more  effectually,  their  object,  they, 
at  first,  extolled  the  virtues  of  the  holy  bish- 
op, and  so  great,  indeed,  was  his  merit,  and 
so  universal  his  reputation,  that  he  was  sur- 
named  the  "just,"  and  the  "  supporter  of  the 
people."  In  consideration  of  the  purity  of  his 
life,  he  was  allowed  to  enter  into  that  part  of 
the  temple,  whither  the  priests  alone  were  ad- 
mitted, when  in  the  actual  exercise  of  their 
functions:  he  prayed  without  intermission;  and, 
almost  always,  with  his  face  prostrate  on  the 
earth;  so  that  his  forehead,  as  well  as  his 
knees,  were,  as  the  ancient  writers  inform 
us,  "callous  as  the  camel's  skin."  To  this 
angelic  fervour,  were  united  a  virginal  integri- 
ty of  manners,  and  rigorous  austerities ;  he 
never  drank  wine,  nor  other  inebriating  li- 
quors ;  never  entered  the  bath  ;  nor  made 
use  of  animal  food:  his  garments  were  ex- 
clusively of  linen,  and  these  so  light,  as  neither 
to  defend  him  from  the  burning  rays  of  a 
summer  sun,  nor  the  piercing  cold  of  winter. 


HISTORY    OP    TH"E    CHURCH.  99 

When  he  appeared  in  the  assembly,  the  peo- 
ple redoubled  their  professions  of  respect : 
his  opinion  of  the  doctrine  of  Jesus  was  de- 
manded :  he  expressed  his  conviction,  and 
defended  the  religion  of  the  Son  of  God, 
with  such  undaunted  courage,  that  by  his 
zeal,  he  converted  many  foreign  Jews,  who 
had  assembled  to  celebrate  the  pasch. — 
The  scribes,  pharisees,  and  Saducees,  ex- 
cited a  violent  sedition ;  and,  insisting  that 
he  should  publicly  retract  his  opinion,  and 
disabuse  the  people  of  their  errors  concern- 
ing Jesus  Christ,  they  conducted  the  holy 
confessor  to  an  elevated  part  of  the  temple. 
The  multitude  from  below,  cried  out,  with  a 
great,  perhaps  exaggerated,  appearance  of 
respect:  "Just  man,  what  is  your  belief  con- 
cerning Jesus,  who  was  crucified?"  There 
could  not  have  been  a  more  favourable  op- 
portunity to  declare  the  truth.  How  far  the 
holy  man  took  advantage  of  it,  his  answer 
will  decide  :  "  Why,  said  he,  with  a  loud 
voice,  do  you  ask  me  concerning  Jesus,  the 
Son  of  Man,  and,  at  the  same  time.  Son  of 
God  ?     In  vain  do  you  pretend  to  dOubt  my 


100  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

faitli,  in  this  tiiic  Redeemer ;  I  declare  unto 
yoH  ;  that  he  is  sittin*]^  in  the  lieavens,  at  the 
riglit  hand  of  the  Ahnighty;  from  whence  he 
shall  come    to  judge    the    universe."        By 
some,  a  cry  of  "  Glory  to  the  Son  of  David" 
was  raised,   as  he  pronounced  these  words; 
others,    on  the   contrary,   exclaimed :  "  The 
just  man  himself  has  erred :  and  the  holy 
apostle  and  venerable  bishop  was  precipitated 
amid  the  confusion,  to  the  ground.     By  the 
fall  he  was  not   instantly    killed  ;  but  as   he 
was  praying  for  his  enemies,   after  the  ex- 
ample of  his  Divine  Master,  a  fuller,  depriv- 
ed him  of  the  last  remnant  of  life,  by  striking 
him  on  the  head  with  a  mallet.     The  holy 
martyr  was  buried  on  the  spot  which  was 
stained  with  his   blood  :  and   a   monument 
erected  to  his  memory,   of  which  one  pillar 
was  standing,  as  we  are  informed  by  Euse- 
bius,  in  the  fourth  century. 

St.  James,  wrote  an  epistle,  addressed  to 
the  faithful,  converted  from  the  different 
tribes  of  Israel,  and  spread  throughout  the 
whole  world  :  on  this  account,  it  has  received 
the  naitie  of  Catholic  or  universal:  in  his  time 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  101 

some  passages  from  the  epistles  of  St.  Paul, 
misunderstood,  liad  given  rise  to  the  errone- 
ous doctrine,  that  good  works  were  not  neces- 
sary for  salvation :  the  first  object  of  this 
epistle  was  to  combat  and  refute  that  princi- 
ple of  relaxation,  and  corruption ;  he  also 
gives  a  most  precise  idea  of  the  sacrament 
of  extreme  unction.  The  heretics,  called  sa- 
cramentarians,  as  well  as  those  who  maintain- 
ed that  faith,  without  good  works,  is  suf- 
ficient for  salvation,  for  some  time,  rejected 
tliis  epistle  from  the  number  of  canonical 
books :  but  the  power  of  truth  compelled 
them,  after  a  short  time,  to  reinstate  it  among 
the  sacred  writings:  a  doubt,  it  is  true,  was  at 
first  entertained,  respecting  the  author  of  it ; 
but  we  find  it  cited  as  one  of  the  inspired 
writings,  by  all  the  holy  doctors,  at  the  close 
of  the  fourth  century,  and  by  those  who  came 
after  them ;  and  if,  in  the  preceding  ages,  it 
had  not  been  held  by  all,  in  equal  esteem,  it 
was  only  because  the  doubt  concerning  its 
authenticity,  had  not  been  set  at  rest.   (1) 

(1)  That  this  epistle  was  ultimately  considered  canonical 
by  the  whole  church,  is  manifest  from  the  writings  of  Euse- 


102  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

The  same  may  be  said  of  the  epistle  of  8t. 
Jude  :  hke  that  of  St.  James,  it  was  address- 
ed to  all  the  faithful  in  general ;  and  was  di- 
rected against  the  same  errors,  which  were 
every  day  becoming  more  prevalent :  that  is, 
the  corrupt  principles  of  the  Nicholaites,  the 
Simonians  and  Gnostics,  who  were  satisfied 
with  a  barren  and  speculative,  and  denied 
the  necessity  of  a  lively  and  active,  faith. 

St.  James,  St.  Jude,  and  St.  Simeon,  were 
brothers,  and  cousin-germans  to  our  Lord  ac- 
cording to  the  flesh  ;  they  were  still  more 
closely  united  to  him,  in  a  spiritual  sense,  by 
their  extraordinary  virtues.  Simeon,  after 
the  death  of  his  brother,  was  raised  to  the 
see  of  Jerusalem  :  and  notwithstanding  the 
malevolent  exertions  of  the  Jews,  the  episco- 
pal ministry  was  triumphantly  continued,  in 
the  very  capital  of  Judea. 

In  the  mean  time,  St.  Paul  not  only  main- 
tained at  Rome,  his  ascendancy  over  the  Jews, 

bius,  (Hist.  22.  in  fin.)  S.  Jerome,  de  script.  Eccles.  in  Jacob. 
Tertullian,  (adv.  Jud.  c.  2.)  and  Origen  (ho.  7  in  Jos.) 
To  these  may  be  added  the  authority  of  S.  Epiphanius,  S. 
Athanasius,  S.  Gregory  Nazianzen,  Pope  Damasus,  S.  Au- 
gustine, Cassiodorus,  S.  Isidore,  and  in  a  word,  of  all  who 
have  since  written  on  the  subject.     Vide.  Baxon.  ad  ann.  63. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  103 

but  acquired  great  celebrity  even  in  the  court 
of  Nero,  and  modelled  into  sincere  and  fer- 
vent Christians,  some  of  the  ministers  of  that 
voluptuous  emperor.  In  his  letter  to  the 
Philii)pians,  (who,  on  hearing  of  the  imprison- 
ment of  St.  Paul,  had  sent  their  bishop  Ep- 
aphroditus,  to  Rome,  with  presents  to  the 
holy  apostle,)  he  commends  the  docility  with 
which  they  listened  to  the  voice  of  truth:  their 
respect  for  its  teachers ;  and  the  spirit  of 
charity,  which  the  gospel  had  diffused  amongst 
them.  After  having  informed  the  Christians 
at  Phillippi,  of  the  progress  of  the  faith,  not 
only  in  the  pagan  city,  but  in  the  imperial  pa- 
lace itself,  he  fortifies  them  against  false 
teachers  and  seducers,  whom  he  calls  "  ene- 
mies of  the  cross  of  Christ."  These  enemies 
of  the  cross,  were  the  hardened  Jews,  and 
some  few  heretics,  such  as  Simon,  the  magi- 
cian, and  perhaps  the  apostate  Cerinthus,  who 
maintained  that  Christ  had  been  crucified 
only  in  appearance :  this  is  the  reason  why 
that  eloquent  epistle  exalts,  with  such  subli- 
mity, the  great  mystery  of  redemption  by  the 
cross.     In  this  letter,  we  begin  to  be  acquaint- 


104  niSTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

ed  with  the  virtues  of  St.  Clement :  his  at- 
tachment to  the  doctrine  and  person  of  the 
apostle ;  and  with  all  those  rare  and  excel- 
lent qualities  which  afterwards  raised  that  il- 
lustrious man  to  the  chair  of  Peter.  In  the 
epistle  to  Philemon  we  are  informed  of  the  con- 
version of  Onesimus:  who,  from  a  fugitive  slave 
became  one  of  the  most  illustrious  con- 
verts of  St.  Paul,  during  his  captivity.  Onesi- 
mus had  belonged  to  a  Christian,  by  the  name 
of  Philemon;  an  inhabitant  of  Colossus,  in 
Phrygia ;  a  man  distinguished  for  his  piety  : 
and  who,  a  few  years  later,  under  the  reign  of 
Nero,  was  crowned  with  martyrdom.  Paul, 
in  chains,  advanced  the  interests  of  the  church, 
by  the  superior  talents  of  this  penitent  slave  ; 
and  made  him  the  bearer  of  two  letters :  the 
one  to  Philemon,  the  other  to  the  church  of 
the  Colossians.  The  former  epistle,  short 
as  it  is,  is  a  master  piece  of  eloquence, 
flowing  from  the  abundance  of  an  inspired 
heart.  It  produced  the  desired  effect.  The 
master  of  Onesimus,  not  only  pardoned,  but 
emancipated  his  slave ;  and  sent  him  back  to 


HISTORY    OF    THE   CHURCH.  105 

the  apostle.  Under  the  direction  of  such  a 
teacher,  Onesimus  made  rapid  progress  in 
virtue  and  perfection,  and  became  one  of  the 
ornaments  of  the  church,  in  its  purest  and 
brightest  times. 

In  the  epistle  to  the  citizens  of  Colossus, 
he  dwells,  with  equal  force  and  dignity,  on 
the  greatness  of  the  power  of  Jesus  Christ; 
for  there  were,  in  this  city,  false  teachers  ; 
who  maintained  that  God  should  not  be  ad- 
dressed through  Jesus  Christ,  (as  he  is  so  far 
above  us,)  but  through  the  angels.  In  the  third 
chapter,  he  enforces  the  necessity  of  true  and 
unaffected  piety:  and  gives  an  excellent  abridg- 
ment of  all  the  duties  of  a  Christian  life.  Anionji; 
the  disciples  of  whom,  the  apostle  makes  men- 
tion, we  find  the  name  of  Mark,  cousin  of  Bar- 
nabas, who  had  formerly  been  an  associate  in 
the  labours  of  St.  Paul.  St.  Mark,  liad  im- 
bibed the  evangelical  spirit  of  his  teacher : 
and  so  great  were  his  zeal,  constancy  and  fer- 
vour, that  we  find  him  numbered  with  the 
three  principal  co-operators  of  the  apostle  of 
the  gentiles. 


106  HISTORY    OF    THE    CHURCH. 

That  the  epistle  to  the  Ephesians,  was  writ- 
ten from  Home  ahout  the  same  time,  and  sent 
by  the  same  opportunity,  is  highly  probable  : 
for  the  ordinary  road  to  Colossus,  ran  through 
the  city  of  Ephesus.  As  these  two  churches 
were  in  the  same  country,  their  wants  simi- 
lar, and  their  manners  congenial,  the  instruc- 
tions conveyed,  are  in  substance  the  same. 
One  point,  however,  we  discover  in  the  epis- 
tle to  the  Ephesians,  which  is  not  mentioned 
in  that  to  the  Colossians :  I  allude  to  marriage, 
as  raised  to  the  dignity  of  a  sacrament.  The 
sacred  writer  not  only  speaks  in  commenda- 
tion of  matrimony,  but  even  compares  the 
union  of  husband  and  wife,  to  that  of  Jesus 
Christ  with  his  church. 

From  Rome,  he  also  wrote  his  epistle  to 
the  Hebrews ;  that  is,  to  the  converted  Jews 
of  Palestine  :  to  strengthen  them  against  the 
seductive  attempts,  or  envy  of  the  other  Jews. 
Although  the  gentiles  constituted  the  special 
object  of  the  mission  of  St.  Paul,  yet  he  em- 
braced all  the  world  in  his  unbounded  charity: 
In  writing  to  the  Jews,  he  endeavours  to 
disabuse  them  of  their  attachment  to  circum- 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHUKCH.  107 

cision,  and  to  convince  them  of  the  inutihty 
of  the  law  of  Moses,  whose  types  were  all 
realized  in  the  rehgion  of  Jesus  Christ.  To 
accomplish  this,  with  more  efficacy,  he  insists 
tipon  the  superabundant  virtue  of  the  sacri- 
fice of  the  incarnate  word,  and  the  pre-emi- 
nence of  his  priesthood,  and  shows  how  the 
multiplied  sacrifices  of  the  ancient  law, 
having  no  longer  any  eiFect  to  produce,  were 
therefore  rendered  void  and  unnecessary.  Of 
the  authenticity  of  this  epistle,  some  doubts 
have  been  entertained,  on  account  of  the  re- 
markable dissimilitude  of  style  between  it 
and  the  other  writings  of  St.  Paul ;  but  of  this, 
the  cause  is  obvious  :  St.  Paul  was  writing  to 
a  church,  in  which  there  were  numerous  pro- 
selytes from  Judaism,  who  though  converted, 
could  not  lay  aside  the  prejudices  which  they 
had  conceived  against  his  person.  It  may  be 
through  fear  of  oftending  these,  that  he  did 
not,  according  to  his  usual  custom,  prefix  his 
name  to  the  epistle. 

The  substance,  notwithstanding  the  differ- 
ence of  expression,  speaks  the  nervous  and 
dignified  manner  of  the  great  teacher  of  the 


108  HISTORY    OF    THE    CHURCH.  ' 

gentiles.  (1)  St.  Luke  soon  after  the  publica- 
tion of  this  epistle,  departed,  for  a  time,  from 
the  city  of  Rome :  and  this  is  the  reason 
why  the  acts  of  the  apostles,  do  not  continue 
to  the  time,  when  St.  Paul  after  two  years  of 
imprisonment  obtained  his  freedom. 

In  following  the  order  of  the  sacred  writings, 
we  find  that  St.  Paul,  soon  after  this  event, 
fulfilled  the  promise  which  he  had  made,  in 
his  epistle  to  visit  the  Hebrews  :  after  which 
he  went  to  the  different  churches  of  Asia  Mi- 
nor, and  extended  still  more  widely  the  king- 
dom of  Jesus  Christ. 

In  the  discharge  of  his  duties,  during  these 


(1)  The  authenticity  of  this  epistle  was  denied  by  the 
Marcionites,  and  Arians  ;  by  some  it  was  attributed  to  Bar- 
nabas; by  others  to  S.  Clement,  or  S.  Luke.  The  grounds  on 
which  they  rejected  it,  were  as  I  remarked  in  the  text:  1. 
Because  the  name  of  Paul  is  not  expressed:  2.  On  account 
of  the  dissimilitude  of  style,  between  this  and  the  other 
writings  of  S.  Paul. 

I.  To  the  first  objection  S.  Clement,  (ap.  Eus.  6.  h.  11.) 
S.  Jerome,  (de  script.  Ecc.)  and  others,  give  the  answer  which 
the  reader  saw  above  :  as  he  was  sent  more  especially  to  the 
gentiles,  he  did  not  style  himself  the  apostle  of  the  Hebrews. 

II.  As  to  the  dissimilitude  of  style,  the  cause  of  it  is  ob- 
vious: his  other  epistles  being  directed  to  the  Greeks,  were 
written  in  the  Greek  language  :  That  to  the  Hebrews,  he 
wrote  in  the  Hebrew  tongue :  that  it  was  translated  into 
Greek  either  by  S.  Luke  or  S.  Clement,  was  the  common 
opinion  of  the  ancients.  (Orig.  ap.  Eus.  6  hist.  19.)  (Eus.  3 
Hist.  33  et  alii.)     Thus  Spondanus  ep.  an.  Baron,  ad.  ann.  CO. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  109 

zealous  excursions,  he  suffered  many  hard- 
ships, privations,  and  trying  persecutions  ;  his 
heahh  was  now  extremely  weakened,  by  ex- 
cessive labour,  and  though,  only  sixty  years 
old,  he  was  bending  under  a  premature  de- 
crepitude. Having  learned  by  a  special  re- 
velation, as  we  are  informed  by  St.  Athanasi- 
us,  that  he  was  to  suffer  martrydom  at  Rome, 
far  from  being  terrified  at  the  idea  of  death, 
he  hastened  back  to  the  second  "  Babylon" 
which  was  soon  to  be  stained  with  the  blood 
of  the  saints.  Then  it  was  that  St.  Paul  met 
at  Rome  for  the  last  time,  the  prince  of  the 
apostles,  whose  pastoral  duties,  even  after  the 
establishment  of  the  apostolic  chair,  had  of- 
ten caused  him  to  absent  himself  from  the 
great  metropolis. 

It  is  certain,  that  after  the  translation  of  the 
holy  see,  the  vicar  of  Jesus  Christ,  made  fre- 
quent excursions  into  the  East,  and  even  as 
far  as  Palestine.  We  are  assured  by  tlie  sa- 
cred writings,  that  he  presided  at  the  council 
of  Jerusalem,  after  that  event :  and  by  some 
it  has  been  conjectured,  that  he  travelled  in- 
to Judea,  to  consecrate  St.  Simeon  bishop  of 


110  IliSTORV  OV  THE  CHUUCII. 

Jerusalem,  after  the  martyrdom  of  St.  James. 
On  his  return  to  his  see,  he  was  warned  that 
the  period  of  his  immolation  was  drawing 
nigh,  and  even  in  the  manner  foretold  by 
Jesus  Christ,  during  his  mortal  life. 

He  took  advantage  of  the  short  time  which 
was  yet  allotted  him,  to  transmit  in  writing, 
to  the  faithful  Israehtes,  those  lessons,  which 
they  had  before  received,  with  docility 
and  gratitude,  from  him,  who  was,  in  a  pecu- 
liar manner,  their  apostle.  In  his  epistles, 
he  warned  them  against  the  false  doctrines, 
which  began  to  be  disseminated ;  reminding 
many,  that  they  had  been  eye  witnesses  of 
the  miracles  and  ascension  of  the  Redeemer. 
To  St.  Peter,  are  attributed  several  prophecies 
which  it  is  said  he  published  in  concert  with 
St.  Paul,  before  their  martyrdom  :  that  in  these 
were  predicted  all  the  eventful  circumstances 
of  the  ruin  of  Jerusalem  :  and  that  on  hearing 
thein  the  faithful  abandoned  in  time,  the  de- 
voted city. 

The  holy  apostles,  it  would  appear,  had 
now  consummated  their  mission  :  Peter  had 
courageously  preached  the  necessity  of  justice, 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  Ill 

and  chastity  to  the  flatterers  of  the  most  san- 
guinary and  impure  of  the  Caesars  ;  and  Paul, 
having  converted  the  chief  cup-bearer,  and 
one  of  the  concubines  of  the  emperor,  was 
by  the  ferocious  tyrant,  indignantly  consigned 
to  a  dungeon.  But  their  zeal  and  solicitude 
were  still  active.  During  his  (1)  imprison- 
ment, which  continued  a  year,  Paul,  though 
treated  at  first  with  the  utmost  rigour, 
had  found  means  to  put  the  last  stroke  to  the 
work  of  his  ministry.  He  wrote  his  second 
epistle  to  Timothy,  to  inspire  him  with  fresh 
courage  in  the  discharge  of  his  various  func- 
tions, and  to  request  his  presence  in  the  impe- 
rial city,  to  comfort  the  faithful  in  the  affliction 
which  his  approaching  death,  and  that  of  St. 
Peter,  would  necessarily  cause. 

This  epistle  furnishes,  besides,  one  of  the 
strongest  proofs  in  favour  of  tradition  :  "The 
things,  says  the  apostle,  which  thou  hast  heard 
of  me  before  many  witnesses,  the  same 
commend  to  faithful  men,  who  shall  be  fit  to 
teach  others  also."  Here  we  find,  that  be- 
sides the  written  word,  there  were  truths  no 
less  certain  and  salutary,   to  be  transmitted 

(1)  Chrys.  in  Vitap.  Mon.  Ambr.  in  Aux. 


112  IIISTOKV  or  THE  CHURCH. 

by  word  of  inoutli,  from  geiienitioii  to  geiif!;- 
ration,  to  the  end  of  time.  Tliis  epistle  is 
the  last  which  St.  Paul  wrote  :  in  it  we  clear- 
ly discover  a  peculiar  force,  and  ardour  of 
zeal,  excited  in  the  breast  of  the  holy  apostle, 
by  his  approaching  martyrdom.  This  event 
was  accelerated  by  the  arrival  of  Simon  the 
magician,  at  Rome.  This  enthusiast  had 
easily  insinuated  himself  into  the  corrupt 
heart  of  Nero  :  who  himself  pretended  to  be 
skilled  in  the  art  of  magic.  To  gratify  the 
puerile  curiosity  of  the  emperor,  Simon  un- 
dertook to  fly  to  heaven,  (1)  and  occupy  (2) 
the  throne  which  was  there  prepared  (3)  for 
him.  (4)  An  immense  multitude  assembled, 
to  witness  the  scene  :  and  among  others,  the 
two  apostles  made  their  appearance  on  the 
occasion ;  having  previously  prepared  them- 
selves for  the  combat  against  the  prince  of 
darkness,  by  fasting,  and  the  prayers  of  the 
faithful.  Simon  Magus  appeared:  and  after 
publicly  declaring  himself  the  rival  of  Jesus 
Christ,  whose  ascension  he  denied,  he  gradu- 


(1)  Arnob.in.  gent.  1.  2.    (2)  Cyril.  Catech  6.     (3)   Suet, 
hist.  1.  2.     (4)  Aug.  hser.  1. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  113 

ally  mounted  into  the  air  above  the  wonder- 
ing mukitude.  But  his  triumph  was  moment- 
ary :  he  rose  to  fall :  and  on  a  sudden  he 
tumbled  from  his  elevation  ;  and  his  limbs 
were  broken  :  he  was  instantly  conveyed  to  a 
neighbouring  house,  but  ashamed  to  survive 
so  public  a  disgrace,  he  precipitated  himself 
from  a  window,  and  died  upon  the  spot. 

This  event  rekindled  all  the  hatred  and 
jealousy  of  Nero,  against  the  holy  apostles. 
He  ordered  them  both  to  be  thrust  into  the 
prison  of  Mamertinus,  at  the  foot  of  the  capi- 
tolinehill,  and  condemned  them  to  die.  The 
>sentence  was  (1)  executed  by  the  Roman 
governors,  in  the  absence  of  the  emperor, 
who  had  left  Rome  on  an  expedition  into 
Greece.  St.  Peter,  no  longer  the  pusillani- 
mous man  who  denied  his  Divine  Master,  suf- 
fered with  immoveable  courage  :  He  was 
crucified  according  to  the  prediction  of  the 
Redeemer  :  but  requested  through  humility, 
and  obtained,  the  favour  of  hanging  with  his 
head  towards  the  ground,  for  he  esteemed 
himself  unworthy  to  be  assimilated  even  in 

(1)  Clem.  ep.  ad  cor. 
VOL.  I. — 8. 


114        mSTORYOl  THE  CHURCH. 

his  torments  to  the  Son  of  God.  Death,  by 
crucifixion,  could  not  be  inflicted  on  St.  Paul, 
who  was  a  Roman  citizen  ;  he  was  according- 
ly beheaded,  on  the  same  day.  Their  mar- 
tyrdom occurred  on  the  twenty-nintli  day  of 
June ;  and  most  probably  in  the  sixty-ninth 
year  of  Jesus  Christ.  St.  Paul  was  executed 
about  the  distance  of  three  miles  from  Rome, 
at  a  place  called  "  The  Salman  fountains,'^ 
(1)  St.  Peter  was  crucified  on  mount  Janicu- 
lum  ;  but  his  body  was  entombed  in  the  Va- 
tican. The  faithful  had  the  precaution  to 
have  the  portraits  of  the  holy  apostles  taken 
before  their  death ;  and  these  were  carefully 
preserved  for  more  than  two  centuries  at 
Rome.  St.  Peter  was  represented  of  low 
stature :  his  head  bald,  and  having  an  acqui- 
hne  or  Roman  nose.  These  particulars  of 
the  vicar  of  Jesus  Christ,  cannot  but  prove 
interesting  to  the  reader.  His  wife  (he  had 
been  married  before  his  vocation  to  the  apos- 
tleship,)  suffered  martyrdom  before  him  :  and 
Petronilla,  his  daughter,  lived  a  virgin,  and 
died  at  Rome,  in  the  odour  of  sanctity. 

(1)  Eus.  xix.  18. 


HISTORY    OP    THE    CHURCH.  115 

Such  were  the  first  victims  of  the  persecu- 
tion of  Nero ;  a  persecution  the  more  fatal, 
as  it  served  as  a  model  to  those  of  the  suc- 
ceeding ages  ;  but  infinitely  advantageous  to 
the  church  of  Rome,  where,  by  the  death  of 
the  vicar  of  Jesus  Christ,  the  apostolic  supre- 
macy was  established  for  ever. 


TO  CHAPTER  I. 


I  PURPOSE  to  lay  before  the  reader,  by  way 
of  appendix  to  the  first  chapter,  some  of  the 
practices  and  customs,  of  the  first  Christians. 
To  the  primitive  times,  we  cannot  but  recur 
with  a  reverential  sense  :  and  it  is  gratifying, 
as  well  as  consoling  to  discover,  that  the  prac- 
tices of  the  first,  are  still  respected  and  some 
even  continued  in  the  eighteenth  century. 

II.  The  ecclesiastical  oflices  were  divided 
into  various  grades  ;  according  to  the  de- 
mands of  the  churches.  These  grades  are 
called  Ordines,  not  only  by  the  ancient  wri- 
ters, but  also  in  the  Testament :  to  mark  the 
distinction  between  the  clergy  and  the  laity. 
As  not  only  among  the  Jews,  but  among  the 
pagans,  a  line  of  demarcation  was  drawn  be- 
tween things  sacred  and  profane,  the  same  dis- 
tinction was  also   observed  in  the    church; 


118  HISTORY  OP  THE  CHURCH. 

It  was  first  established  by  Jesus  Christ 
himself,  when  he  selected  twelve  apostles  and 
seventy-two  disciples  from  the  multitude : 
and  afterwards  by  the  apostles  when  they  or- 
dained bishops,  presbyters,  and  deacons. 
And  though  of  these  grades  alone,  mention  is 
made  in  the  New  Testament,  yet  that  other 
orders  were  also  instituted  by  the  apostles, 
cannot  be  called  in  question.  For  this,  we 
have  the  testimony  of  S.  Ignatius,  Denis  the 
Areopagite,  and  Clemens  Romanus.  The 
first  author  makes  mention  of  presbyters, 
deacons,  sub-deacons,  lectors,  chanters,  door- 
keepers, labourers,  and  exorcists.   (1) 

Of  these  grades,  he  not  only  mentions  the 
names,  but  the  duties.  In  one  of  his  epistles, 
(2)  he  speaks  of  choosing  a  cursor,  whose 
office  was  to  carry  letters  from  the  bishops  to 
the  churches.  This  office  afterwards  devolv- 
ed on  the  lectors,  acolytes,  and  sub-deacons.(3) 
Of  the  labourers,  the  office  was,  as  S.  Epipha- 
nius  testifies,  (4)  to  bury  the  dead  :  They  were 
called  also  fossarii,  or  diggers.  (5)  The  orders 

(1)  Ign.  Ep.  ad  Antioch.  (2)  Ep.  ad  Polycarp.  (3)  Cyp. 
Ep.  24  and  50)  (4)  Epiph.  in  Comp.  (5)  Ep.  ad  Rust.  Narb. 
ap.Hier.  to.  9. 


HISTORY  OP  THE  CHURCH.  119 

distinct  from  these  ecclesiastical  offices,  were 
seven  in  number,  viz :  door  keepers,  lectors, 
exorcists,  acolytes,  sub-deacons,  deacons  and 
presbyters;  all  of  them  with  the  exception  of 
the  acolytes,  are  mentioned  by  lonatius :  the  ac- 
olytes, however,  are  mentioned  by  Gelasius.  (1) 
(2)  (3)  All  are  enumerated  in  the  Roman  council 
held  under  Sylvester,  (4)  and  the  fourth  coun- 
cil of  Carthage.  (5)  The  institution  of  sa- 
cred orders,  is  called,  not  only  by  the  more 
recent,  but  by  the  most  ancient  fathers,  a  sa- 
crament. (6)  (7)  (8.)  The  ceremonies  by 
which  this  sacrament  was  conveyed,  are  sha- 
dowed out  (9)  by  S.  Luke,  when  he  shews 
that  the  ordination  of  Paul  and  Barnabas  was 
preceded  by /«s/m^  mu\  jn-ai/er  :  after  which 
the  ordination  was  consunnnated  by  the  im- 
position of  hands  :  that  the  Holy  Ghost  was 
given  by  the  imposition  of  hands,  was  not  a 
secret  to  Simon  Magus,  since  he  attempted 
to  purchase  it  by  money.     The   ceremony  of 


(1 )  Ep.  ad  Epis.  Lucan.  C.  3  and  hist.  77  de  relig.  et  seq. 
(2)  Ap.  Euseb,  (3)  Ep.  55.  (4)  Cone.  Rom.  (5)  Can.  2. 
con.  earth.  (6)  see  Tertull.  de  praesciip.  C.  40.  (7)  Cypr. 
de  ablut.  ped.  (8)  Aug.  2.  cont.  Farm.  13.  de  bon.  con- 
jug.  24.       (9)  Acts.  3. 


120  HISTORY    OF    THE    CHURCH. 

imposing  hiuids  was  derived  from  the  ancient 
Testament ;  as  appears  from  Exod.  29. 

Besides  deacons,  there  were  also  deacon- 
esses. Of  these,  the  primitive  office  was  simi- 
lar to  that  of  the  door-keepers  :  The  latter 
opened  the  door  for  the  men ;  the  former  for 
the  women.  Whence  they  are  called  by  Igna- 
tius guards  of  the  sacred  vestibules.  (1) 
Afterwards,  they  assumed  other  occupations^ 
teaching,  visiting  sick  women,  washing,  &c. 
&c.  It  is  certain  that  they  did  not  receive  the 
imposition  of  hands.  For  the  council  of 
Nice  numljers  them  among  the  laity  :  (2) 
Besides  deaconesses,  there  were  also  presby- 
terae  or  priestesses  :  so  called,  either  because 
they  presided  over  the  deaconesses,  or  on  ac- 
count of  their  age  ;  or  because  they  assum- 
ed their  name  from  their  husbands,  who  were 
chosen  to  be  presbyters  ;  and  afterwards  lived 
incontineucy  (3)  (4)  (5.) 

III.  From  the  epistle  of  St.  Paul  to  the  Corin- 
thians, it  is  manifest  that  there  were  in 
the  times  of  the  apostles,  places  called  church- 


(1)  Ep.  ad  Antioch.  (2)  Can.   19.    (3)    Cone.    Laod.  C, 
lilt.  (4)  Athan.  ad  virg.    (5)  Cone.  Ter.  2  c.  20.  &c. 


HISTORY    OP    THE   CHURCH.  121 

cs,  in  wliich  the  Cliristians  assembled  to  pray. 
Of  this  the  writings  of  8.  Ignatius  bear  testi- 
mony :  (1)  those  places  were  called  churches, 
first  by  the  apostle,  and  afterwards  by  all. 
(2)  They  were  originally  private  houses  :  but 
edifices  were  afterwards  erected,  as  appears 
from  the  edict  issued  by  the  pagan  emperors, 
to  demolish  them.  (8)  Eusebius  also  relates 
that  the  churches  which  had  been  erected 
long  before  the  reign  of  Dioclesian,  and  had 
fallen  to  ruin  or  been  destroyed,  were  rebuilt 
by  the  Christians.  The  word  church  taken 
in  this  sense,  is  frequently  mentioned  by  Ter- 
tullian.  (4)  And  before  his  days,  it  is  known 
from  the  acts  of  Pudens,  a  Roman  senator, 
and  disciple  of  St.  Peter,  that  his  house,  as 
also  tliat  of  Euprepia,  a  matron,  were  con- 
verted into  churches.  (5)  Evaristus,  the 
fifth  pontiff,  after  S.  Peter,  divided  the  church 
among  the  presbyters.   (6) 

The  churches  were  so  situated,  that  thev 
faced  the  East  ;  as  is  evident  from   Clement, 

(l)Ign.  ep.  6.  11.23.  (2)  Aug.  qu.  sec.  59.  citatur  a 
Bed.  iu  1  Cor.  (3)  Euseb.  lib.  8.  (4)  de  Cor.  Mil.  C.  3 
&c.  &c.  (5)  Act.  Pud.  et  ep.  Pii  P.  P.  ad  Just.  (6)  Anast. 
de  Rom.' Pont. 


122  HISTORY  OP  THE  CHURCH. 

(l)Tertiillian,  (2)  and  Paulinus.  (3)  Either 
in  imitation  of  Solomon's  temple,  which,  as 
Aristeas  testifies,  looked  towards  the  East ; 
(4)  or  because  the  Christians  were  accus- 
tomed to  pray  towards  the  East.  Each  church 
had  its  portico,  atrium,  sancta,  and  sancta 
sanctorum  :  the  first  was  assigned  to  peni- 
tents and  others,  who  were  not  admitted  into 
the  church  :  the  second  to*  the  people,  the 
third  to  the  priests,  and  the  last  set  apart  for 
the  celebration  of  the  sacred  mysteries.  This 
form  of  structure  was  observed  as  well  in  the 
East,  as  in  the  West ;  as  appears  from  Euse- 
bius.  (5)  Gregory  Nazianzen,  &:c.  &c.  (6) 
There  were,  besides,  rooms  which  are  now 
called  chapels,  and  pastophorii  or  secretatHa, 
which  were  similar  to  our  sacristies. 

In  every  church,  near  the  door,  there  was 
a  fountain  :  in  which  the  faithful  were  accus- 
tomed to  wash  their  hands  and  faces,  accord- 
ing to  the  admonition  of  the  apostle,  (7) 
(8)    (9)       Each  church   was  decorated  with 

(1)  2.  Cons.  62.  (2)  Advers.  Valent.  C.  2.  (3)  Paul  ep. 
12  ad  Sever.  (4)  Arist.  de  73  Intrep.  (5)  10  hist.  4.  et  in 
vitCon.  (6)  Orat.  in  fun.  pair.  (7)  1  Tim.  2.  (8)  Clem. 
8.     (9)  Const.  38. 


HISTORY  OF  THE   CHURCH.  128 

an  image  of  the  Redeemer,  as  we  learn  from 
the  seventh  canon  of  the  council  of  Antioch, 
cited  in  the  Nicene  council.  (1)  Eusebius 
testifies  that  he  saw  the  images  of  Christ,  as 
also  of  Peter  and  Paul,  which  had  been  paint- 
ed long  before  his  time,  (2)  and  Tertiulian 
says,  that  it  was  customary  to  have  the  im- 
age of  Christ,  representing  the  good  shep- 
herd, impressed  on  the   sacred  chalices.   (3) 

That  ornaments  and  precious  vases  of  gold 
and  silver  were  used  in  the  primitive  churches 
S.  Optatus,  and  S.  Augustine  bear  witness, 
(4)  (5)  Pope  Urban,  who  lived  before  them, 
used  none  but  silver  vases.  (6). 

IV.  The  custom  of  assembling  together, 
and  receiving  the  blessed  eucharist  in  the 
church,  is  of  the  remotest  anticpiity.  (7)  The 
rite  observed  in  receiving  the  sacrament  was 
established  by  Paul  himself,  in  the  church  of 
Corinth:  though  on  the  particular  ceremonies, 
S.  Luke  is  silent.  S.  Augustine  testifies  that 
they  were    handed   down  by  tradition.     (8) 


(1)  2  Act.  1.  (2)  7.  hist.  14.  (3)  Tertull.  de  pudic.  cap. 
6.  et  10.  (4)  Opt.  lib.  Cont.  Farm.  (5)  Aug.  3.  Cont.  Cres- 
con.  29.  (6)  Anast.  de  Rom.  Pont.  (7)  1  Cor.  I.  (8) 
Aug.  ep.  118.  ad  Jan. 


124  lIISTOrtY  OF  THE  ciiukcii. 

JVine  mixed  icith  icater  was  offered  in  the 
chalice.  (1)  (2;  It  was  offered  and  taken  by 
persons  fasting.  (3)  (4)  (5)  It  was  offer- 
ed for  the  living  and  the  dead.  Tlie  bles- 
sed sacrament  was  kept  on  the  aUar,  in  a 
oolden  dove,  as  we  read  in  the  acts  of  S. 
Basil.  And  though,  in  the  churches,  the 
faithful  received  under  both  kinds,  it  is  cer- 
tain that  in  their  private  houses  and  wlieii 
they  received  in  the  church,  otherwise  than  in 
the  time  of  the  sacrifice,  they  received  onlj/ 
under  one  kind.  (6)  Concerning  the  prayers, 
liymns,  and  sacred  conferences,  which  attend- 
ed these  holy  banquets  ;  the  sobriety  and  mo- 
desty, and  mutual  charity,  which  were  observ- 
ed. (7)  Minutius  Felix,  Clement  of  Alex- 
andria, (8)  and  others  have  left  the  plainest 
and  most  incontrovertible  testimonies.  Hence 
these  banquets  were  called  agape  s,  that  is, 
feasts  of  love. 

These  banquets  were  according  to  S.  Gre- 
gory, of  Nanzienzen,  (9)  celebrated  on  three 

(1)  Cyp.  ep.  63  ad  Caecil.  (2)  Just.  apol.  ad.  Anton.  (3) 
Aug.  ep.  118.  (4)  Cyp.  ep.  p.  3.  (5)  Tertull.  ad.  uxor.  1 
8.  c.  3.  (6)  Ana.  Sin.  de  Sac.  Syn.  (7)  vid.  Baron,  ad  an. 
57.  XLIV.  see  Tertullian,  apol.  C.  19.  (8)  Minut.  in 
Oct.     (9)  Clem.  2pcedag.  12. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  125 

principal  occasions  :  on  birth-days  ;  funerals, 
and  marriages.  Besides  these,  they  might  be 
celebrated  also  in  the  dedication  of  churches; 
as  appears  from  S.  Gregory  Pope.   (1) 

III.  Before  receiving  the  sacred  body  and 
blood  of  Christ,  the  faithful  were  accustomed 
to  purify  their  hearts,  by  a  confession  of  their 
sins.  They  were  aware  that  the  power  of 
forgiving  sins  had  been  conferred  on  the  apos- 
tles :  and  that  it  was  only  by  confessing, 
that  they  could  obtain  pardon  for  their  sins. 
That  this  was  the  universal  practice  of  the 
primitive  Christians,  is  manifest  from  the 
writings  of  the  most  ancient  fathers ;  such 
as  S.  Irenaeus,  Dionysius,  &c.  From  Euse- 
bius  we  learn,  that  the  heretic  Natalius  made 
his  confession  to  pope  Zephyrinus.  (2)  This 
confession  was  called  exomoloiresis  :  that  ex- 
omolegesis  was  the  same  as  confession,  is  ma- 
nifest from  Tertullian,  S.  Cyprian,  and  others. 
Exomolegis,  says  the  former,  est  petitioveniae, 
quia  qui  petit  veniam,  delictum  confitetur, 
(3)   The  latter  declares  that  the  "  fallen"  are- 


(1)  Greg.  1  ep.  54.    (2)  Eus.  5.  liist;26.    (3)  de  orat.  C.  6. 


12G  HISTORY  OP  THE  CHURCH. 

not  to  be  received  back  into  the  church,  with- 
out making  an  cromolegesis.   (1) 

It  must  not  be  thought,  that  it  meant  only 
a  pubhc  confession  of  sins.  From  Tertul- 
lian  and  Origen,  it  is  clear,  that  it  meant  se- 
cret confession  also.  (2)  (3)  Of  the  necessity  of 
confession,  we  have  innumerable  testimonies; 
such  as  S.  Basil,  S.  Gregory  of  IVyssa,  both 
Anastasii,  Nicephorus,  Ambrose,  Jerome, 
Augustine,  pope  Celestine,  and  all  who  after- 
wards treated  of  ecclesiastical  affairs,  as  well 
Greeks  as  Latins. 

That  there  were,  during  the  persecution 
of  Decius,  presbyteri  pcenitentiarii,  whose 
office  was  to  hear  the  private  confessions  of 
the  faithful,  is  manifest  from  Socrates  and 
Sozomon.  (4)  (5)  It  is  probable  that  these 
poenitentiarii,  were  instituted  before  the  reign 
of  Decius  :  but  on  account  of  the  great  num- 
ber of  those  who  fell  during  the  persecution 
the  number  of  poenitentiarii,  became  also  aug- 
mented. That  not  one  alone,  but  several  of 
•these  were  placed  in  the    same  church,  ap- 

(1)  Cyp.  de  laps.  1.  (2)  Tertull.  de  lap.  c.  20.  (3)  Orig.' 
hom.  2.  in  psal.  38.  (4)  Socr.  lib.  5.  c.  19.  (5)  Sozom.  1.  7. 
c.  16. 


HISTORY  OP  THE  CHURCH.  127 

pears  from  the  epistle  of  Dionysius  of  Alex- 
andria, to  Fabius  of  Antioch.  (1) 

IV.  When  a  member  of  the  Christian  com- 
munity, proved  publicly  scandalous  and  in- 
corrigible, he  was  expelled  from  the  pale  of 
the  church  :  this  expulsion  was  called  excom- 
munication. The  reader  saw,  when  treating 
of  the  epistle  to  the  Corinthians,  that  St. 
Paul  excommunicated  the  incestuous  man. 
That  the  unfortunate  was  not  only  possessed 
and  tormented  by  the  evil  spirit,  but  also  cut 
off  from  the  body  of  the  church,  all  the  fathers 
agree :  (2)  (3)  (4)  St.  Paul,  in  like  man- 
ner, delivered  over  to  Satan,  Alexander  and 
Hymenceus,  who  had  apostatized  from  the 
faith.  Writing  to  the  Galatians,  he  pronoun- 
ces anathema  against  all  who  broach  new 
doctrines,  (5)  a  similar  mode  of  excommu- 
nication was  in  use  among  the  Jews  :  and  Jo- 
sephus  testifies  that  it  was  severely  inflicted 
among  the  Essenians.  (6)  Among  the  Ro- 
mans, and  other  pagan  nations,  incorrigible 
persons  were  devoted  to  Pluto,  and  the  infer- 

(1)  ap.  Euseb.  9.  hist.  29.  (2)  Amb.  1  de  paen.  14.  (3)  Aue^. 
tie  fid  et  op  c.  26.  (4)  Tertiill.  de  pud.  13.  20.  (5)  Gal.  1. 
(6)  Jos.  2.  de  bell. 


128  HISTORY    OF    THE    CHURCH. 

nal  deities  :  (1)  among  the  Gauls,  whoever 
did  not  obey  tlie  decrees  of  the  druids,  were 
excluded  from  the  sacrifices,  and  forbidden 
to  hold  any  communication  with  their  fellows. 
(2) 

Excommunication  is  mentioned  by  the  fa- 
thers, under  different  appellation^  :  by  Tertul- 
lian  it  is  styled  divina  censura  :  (3)  by  S. 
Cyprian,  sometimes  abstentio,  at  other  times 
GLADius  spiritualis,  a  spiritual  sword  :  (4) 
by  St.  Jerome,  spiritualis  mucro,  and  vir- 
GA  ferrea,  or  an  iron  rod.  (5) 

Whoever  fell  under  this  censure,  was  de- 
prived of  the '  holy  eucharist :  and  rejected 
from  the  assemblies  of  the  faithful.  (6)  They 
were  said  to  be  given  up  to  Satan  ;  first,  be- 
cause such  was  the  form  used  by  St.  Paul : 
and  secondly,  because  the  obdurate  sinner  is 
the  enemy  of  God,  and  the  captive  of  the  in- 
fernal powers. 

Besides  excommunication,  there  was  also 
another  censure,  called  degradatio,  exauc- 
TORATio,  or   depositio  :  which  was   inflicted 


(1).  Dionys.  Italic  lib.  2.  hist.  Rom.  (2)  Cr^s.  de  bell. 
Gal.  lib.  6.  (3)  Tertull.  apol.  C.  39.  (4)  Cyp.  ep.  38  et  62 
(5)  Hier.  ep.  1  et  53.     (6)  Cyp.  de  orat.  Dom. 


HISTORY    OP    THE    CHURCH.  129 

on  the  minister  of  the  church,  when  guihy  of 
an  enormous  crime.  By  it,  he  was  deposed 
as  well  from  his  office,  as  from  his  order. 
Similar  to  this  was  the  censure  of  suspensio  : 
which  was  incurred  by  the  minister,  who  pre- 
sumed to  officiate,  without  due  faculty  from 
the  bishop.  (1)  This  censure  was  very  com- 
mon: (2)  by  it,  the  name  of  the  delinquent  was 
expunged  from  the  registers  of  the  church  ; 
or  at  least,  if  the  minister  were  only  suspect- 
ed, suppressed  ;  in  order  that  it  might  not  be 
called  over  in  public  with  the  others. 

V.  The  incestuous  man  was,  after  a  short 
penance,  absolved  by  the  apostle  :  in  virtue  of 
this  example,  the  church  claimed,  and  exer- 
cised, the  right  of  granting  indulgences  :  of 
this,  we  find  numerous  instances  in  the  pri- 
mitive ages  :  especially  in  the  time  of  perse- 
cution, when  the  fallen  returned  to  the  church, 
made  their  exomologesis  or  confession,  and 
were  dispensed  from  a  part  of  the  penance 
which  they  otherwise  would  have  been  oblig- 
ed to  undergo.  In  the  great  council  of  Nice, 
we  find  a  canon  authorising  the  bishops,  ac- 

(1)  Cyp.  ep.  65  ad  Rogat.     (2)  Aug.  ep  136.  137. 


130  lIlSTOItY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

cording  to  the  contrition  which  the  penitent 
evinces,  to  grant  indulgences.  (1) 

VI.  The  practice  of  abstaining  from  meat, 
on  certain  days,  claimsthedignity  of  an  apos- 
tolical institution :  of  the  abstinence  of  the 
apostles,  many  examples  might  be  adduced  : 
By  S.  Gregory  Nazianzen,  we  are  informed 
that  Peter  was  accustomed  to  satisfy  his  hun- 
ger with  herbs.  (2)  Hegesippus  affirms,  that 
James,  the  brother  of  our  Lord,  never  used 
flesh  or  wine :  (3)  That  Matthew  abstained 
from  flesh,  is  asserted  by  Clement  of  Alexan- 
dria :  (4)  That  Timothy  was  not  in  the  ha- 
bit of  drinking  wine  is  plain  from  S.  Paul. 

That  the  Christians  were,  at  certain  times, 
prohibited  the  use  of  flesh,  and  bound  to  fast, 
is  evident  from  many  testimonies :  S.  Igna- 
tius, who  was  contemporary  with  the  apostles, 
and  of  whose  epistles  no  doubt  was  entertain- 
ed, zealously  recommends  the  fast  of  lent : 
(quadragesim^)  that  this  great  fast  was 
an  apostolic  institution,  was  never  questioned 
in  the  church  :     Tertullian  says,  that  the  fast 

(1)  Can.    11.   12.     (2)   de  am.  paup.      (3)  ap.   Eus.  2 
hist.  22.     (4)  2paidag.  1. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  131 

of  lent,  (he  called  it  the  caster  fast,  Paschatis,) 
was  prescribed  as  well  by  the  scripture,  as  by 
by  tradition :  (1)  S.  Basil  declares,  that  that 
solemn  fast  was  proclaimed  on  land  and  sea, 
that  the  whole  world  might  observe  it. 

Besides  the  quadragesimal  fast,  we  find,  in 
the  most  ancient  authors,  that  also  of  the  four 
seasons.  "  Quatuor  temporum."  So  distri- 
buted, says  S.  Leo,  that  during  the  revolution 
of  the  year,  the  law  of  abstinence  may  be  ob- 
served at  every  change  of  season.  (2)  That 
this  fast  also  took  its  origin  in  the  days  of  the 
apostles,  the  same  author  proves  beyond  a 
doubt :  that  it  was  observed  in  the  Greek,  as 
well  as  in  the  Latin  church,  Athanasius  inti- 
mates, when  treating  of  the  fast  after  pente- 
cost.   (8) 

VIL  The  observance  of  the  Sunday,  in  the 
place  of  Saturday,  derives  its  origin  also  from 
the  apostles :  Ignatius,  their  contemporary, 
mentions  it :  (4)  That  collects  or  collections 
were  made  on  Sunday,  we  learn  from  Cypri- 
an, Chrysostom,  Leo,  and  others.     By  Igna- 


(1)  Tertull  adv.  Psych.  C.  73.     (2)  in  Jej.  mens,  sep.  &c. 
(3)  Ath.  apol.  de  fug.  sua.     (4)  Ign.  ep.  ad  Philip. 


132  HISTOIIY  OF  THE   CHURCH. 

this,  it  is  styled,  Reginam  et  principeni  omni- 
um dieriim:  the  queen  and  chief  of  all  days: 
(1)  and  is  called  sometimes  Dies  panis,  the 
day  of  bread  ,  and  at  other  times,  Dies  lucis 
the  day  of  light.  St.  Augustine,  after  prov- 
ing that  the  observance  of  Sunday,  had  been 
instituted  by  the  apostles,  says,  that  on  that  day, 
masses  should  be  heard  :  (2)  that  this  was  the 
persuasion  not  only  of  Augustine,  but  of  all 
the  w^orld,  is  proved  from  the  most  ancient 
councils,   (3) 

Besides  the  Sunday,  many  other  days  were 
appointed  to  be  kept  holy  :  such  as  the  nati- 
vity of  our  Lord  ;  the  epiphany,  and  ascen- 
sion. Of  these  festivals,  the  ancient  fa- 
thers speak,  as  being  of  long  standing.  (4) 
With  respect  to  the  feasts  of  the  saints  called 
NATALiTiA,  wc  tiacc  them  up  to  the  remotest 
antiquity :  a  short  time  after  the  apostles,  the 
church  of  Smyrna  instituted  the  feast  of  S. 
Polycarp,  and  other  martyrs.  (5)  Origen,  who 
flourished  under  the  emperor  Severus,  says, 
in  his  third  homily  on  St.  Matthew,  "  that  the 

(1)  Ep.  ad  Mag.  (2)  Ser.  25.  (3)  Syn.  Agch.  C.  47. 
(4)  Paulin.   Natal.  9  S.  Felix.     (5^  Ap.  Eus.  lib.  4  hist. 


HISTORY  OP  THE  CHURCH.  133 

fathers  had  ordained,  according-  to  the  will  of 
God,  that  the  memory  of  the  holy  innocents 
should  be  celebrated  for  ever." 

Of  the  alacrity  and  devotion  with  which 
our  Christian  forefathers  celebrated  all  festi- 
vals, Dionysius  of  Alexandria,  and  S.  Cypri- 
an bear  ample  testimony:  The  sermons  of  S. 
Gregory  of  Nyssa,  will  perpetuate  to  the  last 
age,  the  solemnity  observed  on  the  feast  of  S. 
Theodore,  and  the  forty  martyrs.  In  the 
Western  church,  it  was  esteemed,  according 
to  Galla  Placidia,  (1)  a  sacrilege,  not  to  assist 
at  the  NATALiTiUM  of  the  apostles  ;  a  custom 
prevailed,  of  writing  congratulatory  letters 
on  the  great  festivals  :  saluting  one  another, 
and  communicating  with  fervour  and  holy  joy. 

(2) 

VIII.  The  reader  was  before  informed,  that 
on  the  chalices  and  sacred  vases,  it  was  usual 
to  imprint  the  effigy  of  the  good  shejiherd : 
it  was  also  customary,  in  the  primitive  ages, 
not  only  to  have  crosses  of  wood  or  me- 
tal, but  also  to  make  upon  themselves,  their 
food,  and  other  objects,  the  sign  of  the  cross, 

(\)  Gal.  imp.  ad  Imper.     (2)  Theodoret. 


134  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

By  this  practice,  it  was  their  intention  to  arm 
themselves  against  the  evil  spirit;  and  to  in- 
voke upon  the  object  over  which  they  made 
the  sign  of  the  cross,  the  blessing  of  heaven. 
Of  this  custom,  we  have  the  most  irrefragable 
proof:  from  Tertulhan,  (1)  S.  Cyril,  (2)  S. 
Basil,  (3)  S.Jerome,  (4)  Theodoret,  (5)  &:c. 
&c. 

IX.  I  remarked  above,  that  at  the  entrance 
of  the  churches,  there  was  a  fountain  of  wa- 
ter :  besides  this,  the  faithful  made  use  of 
holy  water  :  From  the  book  De  Romanis 
Pontificibus,  we  learn  that  the  water  was  bless- 
ed with  salt :  "  aqua  aspersionis  cum  sale 
henediceretur  in  hahitaculis  hominum.  This 
appears  to  have  been  also  an  apostolical  in- 
stitution :  it  is  mentioned  by  S.  Clement. 
(6)  That  this  water  was  used  against  the  ef- 
fects of  magic,  and  other  diabolical  arts,  we 
are  informed  by  many  illustrious  authori- 
ties. (7)  (8)  It  was  besides,  used  for  many 
other   purposes :  by  it   diseases  were   some- 

(1)  de.  cor.  mil.  3.  (2)  Cyr.  Hier.  Catech.  13.  (3)  de 
Sp.  Sa.  C.  1.  (4)  ep.  22  ad  Eust.  (5)  3  hist.  10,  &c.  &c. 
(6)  Clem.  8.  Const.  35.  (7)  Hier.  in  vit.  Hil.  (8)  Theo- 
doret. 5  hist.  &c.  &c. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  135 

times   cured  ;    and  virtue     strengthened  in 
temptation  ;  as  appears  from  S.  Basil.   (1)  Of 
this  water,  S.  Cyprian,  (2)  S.  Cyril,  (3)  of  Je- 
rusalem, (4)  S.  Ambrose,  (5)  and   S.  Augus- 
tine, (6)  make  mention. 

X,  Another  point  of  ceremony,  among  the 
first  Christians,  was  the  use  of  lamps  and 
other  lights  :  the  lighting  of  lamps  was  among 
the  Jews  a  sign  of  joy  :  as  Persius  remarks 
in  his  fifth  satire :  and  that  they  were  used 
also  as  a  mark  of  religion,  is  manifest  from 
Josephus.  (7) 

This  practice  was  admitted  into  the  earliest 
church  :  I  before  shewed  the  institution  of 
acolytes  :  whose  office  it  was,  to  carry  lighted 
torches,  to  add  to  the  pomp  of  the  ceremo- 
nies. S.  Jerome  testifies,  that  in  the  East  it 
was  customary,  even  in  the  broad  day,  to  make 
use  of  lights,  at  the  singing  of  the  gospel : 
(8)  and  that  there  were  lights  burning  before 
the  relics  of  the  martyrs,  we  may  gather  from 
S.  Epiphanius  in  his  letter  to  John,  bishop  of 
Jerusalem. 


(1)  de  spirit  Sanct.  cap.  27.  (2)  ep.  70.  (3)  Catechis  3. 
(4)  de  sacram.  (5)  6  Cont.  Julian.  (6)  8  Antiquit.  6.  (7) 
Cont.  Vig.    (8)  Catech.  5. 


136  HISTORY    OF    THE    CHURCH. 

Though  the  same  ciistoin  was  found  among 
the  gentiles,  it  must  not  be  thought,  as  Vigihm- 
tius  affirmed,  that  it  was  from  tliem  that  the 
church  derived  it :  she  derived  it  from  the 
Jews :  but  granting  that  it  was  taken  from 
the  pagans,  why  could  not  those  things  made 
use  of  for  idolatrous  purposes  be  converted 
to  a  holy  use  ?  If  on  certain  days,  lights  were 
burning  in  the  fanes  and  temples  ;  "  not  says 
Seneca,  that  the  gods  stand  in  need  of  light, 
but  for  the  sake  of  religion,"  why  could  hghts 
not  be  placed  in  honour  of  the  virgin  Mary  ? 
This  is  the  reasoning  of  St.  Jerome.  Be- 
sides the  oil  used  in  the  lamps,  there  were 
other  kinds,  of  which  one  is  mentioned  by  S. 
Mark  ;  which,  blessed  by  any  of  the  faithful, 
was  applied  to  the  sick  :  and  another  is  men- 
tioned by  S.  James,  and  constituted  the  sacra- 
ment, called  EXTREME  UNCTION  :  of  the  latter 
and  its  efficacy  as  a  sacrament,  S.  Cyril  of 
Jerusalem,  (1)  S.  Augustine,  (2)  S.  Innocent 
Pope,  (3)  have  treated. 

XI.  When  peace  was  restored  to  the  church, 
the  faithful  were  convened  by  the  somid  of  a 

(1)  Catech.  5.     (2)  inps.  33.    (3)  ep.  I.  c.  8. 


HISTORY    OF    THE  CHURCH.  137 

bell :  By  a  similar  sonnd,  the  'gentiles  were 
accustomed  to  be  called  together  to  the  baths, 
theatres,  &c.  (1)  (2)  That  a  trumpet  from 
a  high  tower,  was  sounded  every  Sabbath 
among  the  Jews,  we  have  the  testimony  of 
Josephus.  (3) 

During  the  persecutions,  the  Christians 
were  not  allowed  to  have  any  signal  by  which 
to  designate  the  hours  for  meeting;  but  notice 
was  given  by  an  officer,  of  whom  I  before 
spoke,  called  cursor.  This  is  the  opinion  of 
Baronius,  which  he  founds  upon  the  highest 
authority.  (4) 

XII.  When  convened,  the  Christians  invari- 
ably prayed  with  their  faces  towards  the  East; 
hence  the  pagans  accused  them  of  adoring 
the  sun.  (5)  That  this  mode  was  delivered 
down  from  the  apostles  themselves,  is  proved 
by  the  testimony  of  many  fathers.    (6)  (7)  (8) 

There  were  different  rites  of  prayer:  some- 
times they  knelt,  at  other  times  prostrated 
themselves  on  the  ground  :  on  Easter  Sunday 
it    appears    from     Tertullian,     they    prayed 

(1)  Mart.  epig.  4.  (2)  Juven.  Sat.  6.  (3)  de  bell.  9.  (4) 
Vid.  Bar.  ad.  ann.  58.  (5)  Tertull.  ap.  C.  1 6.  (6)  Orig.  horn. 
3  in  num.     (!)  Athan.  lib.  9.     (8)  Basil  de  Sp.  S.  5. 


13S  HISTORY    OF    THE    CHURCH. 

standing:  (1)^(2)  This  mode  they  observed 
from  Easter  to  Pentecost:  they  never  sat  at 
prayer.  The  women  had  their  heads  cover- 
ed :  the  men  bare :  that  the  practice  of 
striking  the  breast  was  a  laudable  one,  ap- 
pears from  the  example  of  the  publican  :  (3) 
that  it  obtained  among  the  Christians,  appears 
from  the  instructions  of  pope  Nicholas  to  the 
Bulgarians. 

That  the  faithful  were  accustomed  at  cer- 
tain times,  to  visit  in  a  body  the  tombs  of  the 
martyrs,  praying  as  they  moved  along,  is  clear 
from  Tertullian  (4)  and  St.  Jerome,  (5)  of 
PROCEssioivs,  the  council  of  Laodicea,  makes 
mention.  (6)  That  they  were  called  by  the 
fathers  LiTAiviiE  or  litanies,  because  they  were 
enjoined  as  an  expiation,  at  certain  peniten- 
tial times,  is  shewn  from  many  authorities. 
(7)  These  processions  were  common  alike 
in  the  Eastern  and  Western  churches.  That 
they  were  held  at  Neocgesarea,  in  the  time  of 
Gregory  Thaumaturgus,  we  are  assured  by  S. 
Basil.   (8)     But    the  most   celebrated  were 

(1)  decor,  mil.  C.  3.  (2)  Tertull.  de  orat.  (3)  Luc.  18. 
(A)  Tertull.  ad  ux.  lib.  2.  C.  4.  ,  (5)  Hier.  ep.  22  ad  Euseb. 
(6)  C.  17.  (7)  Greg.  PP.  lib.  2.  Regist.  in  pr.  lib.  11.  C.  2. 
ep.  45  ind.  4.     (8)  ep.  63  ad  Neocses. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  139 

those  which  were  estabhshed  at  first  in  Gaul, 
by  S.  Mamertus,  bishop  of  Vienna,  and  after- 
wards admitted  by  the  whole  church :  and 
were  called  rogationes,  or  rogations. 

XIII.  Of  all  the  ceremonies  and  rites  of 
the  early  Christians,  that  of  the  sacrifice  of 
the  MASS,  was  justly  regarded  as  the  most  es- 
sential and  august :  It  derives  its  name  from 
the  Hebrew  word  Missah,  which  signifies 
ohlatio  spontanea  ;  or  voluntary  offering.  (1) 
That  the  sacrifice  assumed  the  name  of  mis- 
SA  or  MASS  in  the  very  beginning  of  the  church, 
is  certain.  Pope  Pius,  uses  the  term  ;  (2)  as 
also  Cornelius  and  other  Roman  pontifls  of 
the  earliest  times.  (3)  We  find  it  besides,  in  the 
Roman  council,  held  under  Sylvester  (4)  in 
the  second  council  of  Carthage  :  (5)  in  St. 
Augustine,  (6)  S.  Ambrose,  (7)  &c.  &c. 
There  can  be  no  doubt,  but  that  imleaven 
bread  was  made  use  of,  in  the  mass  :  and  that 
this  custom  was  always  observed  in  the  church 
we  have  the  authority  of  S.  Epiphanius.  In 
some  churches,  it  was  customary  to  celebrate 

(1)  Duter.  16.  (2)  ep.ad  Just.  vien.  (3)  Corn.  ep.  ad  Sulpic. 
(4)  in  fin.  (5)  2.  C.  3.  (6)  Serm.  de  temp.  251.  (7)  ep.  33 
ad  Marcel. 


140  HISTORY  OF  TIIID  CHURCH. 

mass  in  the  eveninj^,  the  priest  Jiowevcr  was 
fasting;  that  this  custom  obtained  in  the  Af- 
rican church,  8t.  Augustine  testifies.  (1) 

XIV.  Among  the  most  consohng  usages  of 
the  primitive  church,  that  of  praying  for  the 
dead,  must  claim  our  special  notice  :  it  was 
soothing  to  the  heart  of  a  parent,  a  relation,  or 
afriend,  when  they  visited  the  graves  of  the  de- 
ceased, to  reflect,  that  though  separated,  they 
might  nevertheless  kneel  and  pray  for  the 
repose  of  the  departed  souls.  Hence,  they 
believed,  on  the  surest  grounds,  that  there 
was  a  middle  state :  a  place  of  purgation, 
to  which  those  souls  which  should  depart  in 
the  state  of  venial  or  lesser  sins,  were  con- 
demned for  a  time.  That  the  faithful  sung 
canticles  at  funerals,  and  offered  the  sacrifice 
for  the  dead,  is  manifest  from  8.  Jerome,  (2) 
S.  Augustine.  (3)  And  that  on  the  eighth, 
twentieth,  thirtieth,  fortieth,  and  sixtieth 
day,  the  same  sacrifice  was  repeated  for  the 
dead,  the  ancient  rituals  testify:  that  it  was 
offered  especially  on  the  anniversary  day,  we 
have  the  most  indubitable  testimonies  of  the 


(1)  ep.  18.  ad  Jan.     (2)  ep.  27.    (3)  9  Conf.  13. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  141 

ancient  fathers  :  (1)  (2)  The  custom  of  of-* 
fering  suffrages  for  the  dead,  was  derived 
from  the  apostles  themselves,  as  S.  Augustine 
proves :  (3)  and  still  more  ancient  monu- 
ments of  this  apostolical  tradition  are  found 
in  TertuUian,  Origen,  S.  Cyprian,  S.  Cyril  of 
Jerusalem,  S.  Epiphanius,  S.  Chrysostom,  and 
many  others,  as  well  Greek  as  Latin.  (4) 
XV.  That  the  primitive  Christians  believed 
that  guardian  angels  have  charge  over  each  in- 
dividual, and  deserve  his  veneration  :  that  the 
saints  may  be  invoked  :  that  in  God  there  are 
three    persons :  that  the  pope   is    the   chief 

(1)  Tertull.de  cor.  mil.  etlib.  dc  monog.  (2)  Orat.  funeb. 
Ca3s.  and  many  others      (3)  Serm.  32  de  verb.  apos. 

(4)  The  reader  might  perhaps  be  pleased  to  sec  one  or 
two  samples  of  the  inscriptions  on  the  tombs  of  the  primitive 
Christians  : 

OC.  TAVL^  MA.  TRONiE 

V-I-DUiE  DEI. 

PAX.  CHRISTI. 

Alexander  mortuus  non  est  sed   vivit  super  astra, 

ET  corpus  in  hoc  TUMULO  aUIE.SCIT;  VITAM  EXPLEVIT  CUM 
ANTON.  IMP.  aUI  UBI  MULTUM  BENE!  ICII  ANTEVENIRE  PRiE- 
VIDERET  PRO  GRATIA  ODIUM  REDDIT.  GeNUA  CUM  FLECTENS 
VERO  DEO  SACRIFICATURUS  AD  SUPPLICIA  DUCITUR.  O 
TEMPORA  INFAUSTA  aUIBUS  INTER  SACRA  ET  FESTA  IN  CAVER- 
NIS  aUIDEM  SALVARI  POSSIMUS  !  aUID  MFSERIUS  VITA  !  SED 
aUID  MISERIUS  IN  MORTE  CUM  AB  AMICIS  ET  PARENTIBUS  SE- 
PELIRI  NEaUEAMUS.       TaNDEM    IN    C^ELO    CORUSCAT,  PARUM 

vixiT  aui  vixiT  IV.  X.  Temp. 


142  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

bishop  of  the  church  :  that  images  and  relics 
may  be  venerated  :  and  that  the  councils  of 
the  church  arc  infallible,  we  learn  I.  from 
Sozomen  2  hist.  2.  II.  Theod.  ver.  evang. 
lib.  8.  in  fin.  III.  Aug.  Cont.  ep.  Parm.  lib.  1. 
C.  69.  IV.  Cypr.  de  unit.  eccl.  Optat.  lib.  1 
et  2.  Aug.  in  Joan,  tract  50  et  124.  V.  Tert. 
de  pudic.  cap.  6.  et  10.  S.  Paulin.  ep.  12  ad 
Sev.  S.  Basil,  or.  in  S.  Barlah.  Greg.  Nyss. 
or.  in  Theo.     VI.  Greg.  pap.  1  ep.  4.  et  24. 

XVI.  I  shall  conclude  these  remarks,  with 
adducing  authorities  shewing  the  celibacy  of 
the  clergy,  and  the  high  repute  in  which  Virgin- 
ity was  held,  among  our  Christian  forefathers. 

That  the  apostles,  after  their  vocation  to 
the  apostleship,  lived  in  celibacy,  S.  Jerome 
infers  from  the  words  of  the  Redeemer  :  "all 
who  leave  house,  father,  mother  or  wife,  for 
my  sake  shall  receive  a  hundred  fold  and 
possess  life  everlasting."  The  example  of  the 
apostles  was  followed  by  their  successors:  and 
though  it  sometimes  happened,  that  married 
men  were  raised  to  the  dignity  of  priests ; 
still,  it  first  became  necessary  to  have  the 
C4>nsent  of  both  parties  ;  and  after  the  ordi- 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  143 

nation,  the  man  could  have  no  conjugal  com- 
munication with  his  former  wife.  This  is 
plainly  shown  from  S.  Jerome.  (1)  That  this 
was  the  invariable  custom  of  the  primitive 
ages,  we  learn  from  the  second  council  of 
Carthage.  (2)  And  this  ancient  observance,  was 
confirmed  by  Siricius  (3)  and  Innocent,  (4) 
Popes,  and  by  the  council  of  Aries,  (5)  Tours, 
&c.  (6) 

That  the  same  custom  prevailed  in  the 
East,  Epiphanius,  (7)  (8)  and  St.  Jerome  (9) 
abundantly  testify.  The  first  oecumenical 
council  of  Nice,  clearly  prohibits  the  use  of 
marriage  to  the  clergy  ;  even  though  they 
should  have  been  married  before  their  ordi- 
nation. That  this  prohibition  extended  even 
to  the  Lacedemonians,  is  evident  from  the 
epistle  of  S.  Leo  to  Anastasius. 

To  this  it  has  been  objected,  that  8.  Paul 
did  not  live  in  celibacy :  for  in  his  epistle  to 
the  Corinthians,  he  asserts  that  he  had  a  right 
to  carry   about  with  him  a  woman  :  but  that 

(1)  advers.  Jov.  1.  1.  (2)  2.  C.  2.  (3)  ep.  ad  Himen.  C.  7. 
(4)  Inn.  ep.  3  ad  Exup.  (5)  Con.  arl.  C.  2.  (6)  Tur.  2  C. 
20.  (7j  in  comp.  (8)  ep.  17  ad  Perag.  (9)  in  Vigil,  et 
Jovin.  et  ep.  50, 


141  HISTORY  OP  Tin:  church. 

he  meant  merely  a  sister,  and  not  a  wife,  is 
proved  from  the  earliest  fathers.  (1)  (2)  (3)  (4) 

2.  That  tliere  were,  in  the  very  times  of 
the  apostles,  commmiities  of  virgins,  similar 
to  those  which  are  now  called  monasteries , 
S.  Ignatius  of  Antioch,  (.5)  and  Clement  Ro- 
manus  (6)  bear  ample  witness.  The  primi- 
tive fathers  extol  in  the  highest  terms,  this 
sublime  state  :  even  amongst  pagan  nations, 
the  virgin  was  held  sacred:  though  the  flower  of 
virginity  but  rarely  appeared,  before  the  estab- 
lishment of  the  pure  and  holy  religion  of  Christ. 

This  sketch  of  the  customs  of  the  primi- 
tive Christians,  short  as  it  is,  will  not,  I  trust, 
be  deemed  out  of  place,  or  unsatisfactory,  by 
the  reader.  To  enter  into  all  the  details,  and 
expatiate  upon  all  the  authorities  from  which 
we  derive  the  proofs,  of  these  customs,  would 
be  a  voluminous  task  ;  greatly  exceeding  the . 
limits,  which  I  have  marked  out  for  this  work. 
Should  the  reader  desire  to  make  a  more 
serious  study  of  the  primitive  manners,  cere- 
monies, and  doctrines,  let  him  consult  the 
venerable  chronicler  Baronius. 


(1 )  Ter.  de  Monog.  C.  8.  (2)  S.  Jer.  ad.  Jov.  (3)  S.  Aug-, 
de  oper  Monach.  C.  4.  (4)  S.  Chyrsos.  in  1  Cor.  9.  (5)  ep. 
10. 12. 13.  (6)  ap.  Epiph.  haer.  30. 


CHAPTER  n. 


EMPERORS. 

POPES. 

Nero,  continued. 

St.  Linus. 

Galea. 

St.  Cletus. 

Otho. 

St.  Clement, 

VlTELLIUS. 

St.  Anacletus. 

Vespasian. 

St.  Evaristus. 

Titus. 

St.  Alexander. 

DOMITIAN. 

St    Sixtus. 

Nerva. 

St.  Telesphorus. 

Trajan. 

Hadrian. 

From  the  death  S.  S,  Peter  and  Paul,  anno 
69,  to  the  destruction  of  Jerusalem  and  the 
dispersion  of  the  Jews.     Anno  137. 

More  than  thirty  years  had  now  elapsed, 
since  Jesus  Christ  had  pronounced  the  fate, 
and  foretold  the  destruction,  of  Jerusalem  : 
and  the  obdurate  inhabitants  of  that  devoted 
city  took  no  means  to  avert  the  calamities  which 

vol.  l — 10 


M()  HISTORY  OF  Tin:  (JIIIJIICII. 

were  80011  to  h(i(n\  fliein.  liMjiicty,  in  its  dark- 
est attire,  succeeded  to  a  long  series  of  crimes: 
and  all  restraint,  holli  liunian  an<l  divine, 
l)ein<i^  shaken  oOf,  tin;  whole  state  was  totter- 
in*]^  to  its  centre,  and  ready  to  he  l)uri(;d  hy  the 
first  revolution,  in  utter  ruin.  I'he  <»overnors, 
at  once  avaricious  and  inexorahle,  made  tliem 
feel  the  first  effects  of  the  divine  anger :  and 
the  emperor  Caligula  drove  them  almost  to 
despair,  by  setting  uj)  liis  own  statue,  and 
claiming  puhlic  adoration,  in  the  sanctuary  of 
the  temple.  The  people  of  Alexandria,  pro- 
fitting  hy  the  sanguinary  dispositions  of  the 
tyrant,  treated  with  the  most  barbarous  cruel- 
ty the  Jews,  residing  in  that  populous  city: 
andtliroughall  Egypt.  Their  synagogues  were 
destroyed ;  or  if  any  were  suffered  to  stand, 
it  was  only  that  they  might  be  [)rofaned  by  tlie 
sacrilegious  honours  offered  in  the  lioly  place, 
to  the  statues  of  the  emperors.  Their  houses 
were  forcibly  broken  oj)en  :  their  goods  pil- 
laged :  the  chastity  of  the  women  violated  : 
or  their  resistance  punished  with  death.  The 
streets  of  Alexandria  presented  a  funereal 
scene  of  dead  bodies,  dragged  about  and  in- 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  147 

suited  by  the  brutal  violence  of  the  soldiery. 
In  the  circumjacent  countries  near  Babylon, 
the  children  of  Jacob  were  treated  with  still 
greater  barbarity :  the  blood  of  thousands 
was  spilt :  others  were  compelled  to  abandon 
their  possessions,  fly  from  their  homes,  and 
look  for  a  refuge  in  Saleucia :  but  there  the 
Greek  and  Syrian  inhabitants,  though  ijivete- 
rate  enemies  one  to  the  other,  fell  upon  their 
common  victims,  and  massacred,  it  is  said,  to 
the  number  of  fifty  thousand.  In  Jerusalem 
where  the  paschal  solemnity  had  assembled  a 
numerous  concourse  of  people,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  irreverential  behaviour  of  one 
of  the  soldiers  in  the  temple,  the  infatuated 
multitude  vociferating,  "  that  the  insult  was 
offered  not  to  them,  but  to  God,"  discharged 
a  shower  of  stones  upon  the  cohorts.  The 
governor  attempted  to  quell  the  tunmlt :  but 
being  himself  insulted,  he  commanded  his 
troops  to  take  up  their  arms,  and  assemble  in 
the  fort  Antonia,  which  overlooked  the  tem- 
ple. The  affrighted  populace  fled  with  pre- 
cipitation :  it  is  said,  that  in  the  attempt  to 
press  through  the  streets,  which  were  exceed- 


148  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

ingly  narrow,   twenty  thousand  were  crushetl 
to  death. 

After  this  dreadful  humihation,  various  se- 
ducers, pretending  to  be  inspired,  and  promis- 
ing to  avenge  their  cause,  put  themselves  at 
their  head:  all  of  them  perished  miserably ; 
and  with  them,  an  innumerable  multitude  of 
the  deluded  people. 

Under  the  administration  of  Felix,  the  go- 
vernor, a  banditti  of  robbers,  called  Sicarii, 
from  the  circumstance  of  their  always  carry- 
ing about  them  daggers,  established  themselves 
in  Judea.     The  high  priest  Jonathas,  having 
incurred  the  displeasure  of  Felix,  the  gover- 
nor, bribed  one  of  the  8icarii  to  murder  l;im. 
Having  effected  that  crime  with  impunity,  these 
wretches,  already  very  numerous,  spread,  like 
a  resistless  torrent,  through  the  whole  of  Pa- 
lestine.    Every  festival  was  saddened  by  the 
assassination  of  countless  victims,  that  [>erish- 
ed  by  their  murderous  weapons  :  armed  with 
daggers,  they  every  where  commingled  with 
the  crowd,  and   gratified,  at  an  unexpected 
moment,  the  dark  revenge  of  those,  by  whom 
they  were  kept  in  pay.     In  a  short  time,  their 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  149 

numbers  so  rapidly  increased,  that  they  be- 
Heved  themselves  able  to  take  the  field  even 
against  the  Romans:  and  accordingly,  excited 
an  insurrection  among  their  countrymen : 
chastising  and  plundering  such  as  continued 
faithful  to  the  connnon  enemy. 

Accident,  too,  contributed  to  render  this 
commotion  more  terrible :  Albinus,  the  suc- 
cessor of  Felix,  wishing  to  conciliate  the  fa- 
vour of  the  Jews,  took  a  census  of  all  the 
prisoners  at  Jerusalem,  and  set  at  liberty 
those,  whose  crimes  were  not  too  enormous 
to  be  forgiven.  The  number  of  these  culprits, 
in  consequence  of  the  almost  entire  suspen- 
sion of  legitimate  authority,  was  greater  than 
can  easily  be  imagined  :  and  uniting  with  the 
Sicarii,  it  seemed  as  if  no  human  power  could 
break  the  violence  of  their  depredations. 

The  next  governor,  Cestius  Florus,  passed 
to  the  opposite  extreme.  He  treated  the  pro- 
vince with  all  the  cruelty,  that  a  wicked 
heart,  could  devise,  or  unlimited  power  in- 
flict. He  aojreed  to  connive  at  the  robberies 
of  the  Sicarii,  on  condition  that  they  should 
divide  w  ith  him,  their  plunder :  he   took  no 


150  HISTORY  OP  THE  CHURCH. 

pains  to  conceal  his  o^uilt.  Cestius  Gallus  i^o- 
vernor  of  Syria,  on  wliich  the  province  of  Ju- 
dea  depended,  having  tarried,  for  a  few  days, 
at  Rome,  three  milhons  of  tlie  Jews,  it  is  said, 
drew  up  a  memorial,  imploring  him  to  free  them 
from  the  tyrannic  yoke  laid  on  their  nation, 
by  the  relentless  Florus.  Their  request  was 
treated  with  contempt  :  and,  avarice  and  poli- 
cy combining,  the  evil  was  increased ;  the 
yoke  made  more  galling,  and  their  calamities 
augmented.  Such  a  complication  of  miseries, 
was,  however,  no  more  than  a  faint  prelude  to 
the  terrible  disasters  that  were  soon  to  folloAV. 
The  malediction  had  been  pronounced  by  the 
Jews  themselves,  when  insisting  on  the  death 
of  the  Son  of  God,  they  exclaimed  :  "his  blood 
be  upon  us  and  upon  our  children  :"  this  im- 
precation was  soon  to  have  its  effect :  and  ter- 
rible signs  announced  that  the  w  oes  of  Judea 
were  approaching  to  their  consummation. 

On  the  eighth  of  April,  in  the  year  of  Jesus 
Christ  69,  the  anniversary  of  the  passover,  a 
resplendent  light  surrounded  the  temple  at 
midnight,  and  shone  afar  through  the  sur- 
rounding darkness.     The  Eastern  gate,  w  hich 


HISTORY    OP    THE    CHURCH.  151 

was  of  massive  brass,  and  so  ponderous  that 
it  required  several  men  to  move  it  on  its 
hinges,  opened  of  itself;  though  fastened  with 
enormous  bolts,  and  iron  bars  which  entered 
far  into  the  walls.  Shortly  after  the  feast,  on 
the  twenty-first  of  May,  towards  evening,  just 
as  the  last  rays  of  the  sun  were  fading  on  the 
horizon,  there  appeared  in  the  heavens,  in- 
auspicious fires,  and  other  alarming  phenome- 
na, for  which  no  natural  cause  could  be  as- 
signed. (1) 

But  a  circumstance  still  more  astonishing 
(2)  was  the  prophetic  and  warning  cry  of  a  Jew, 
whose  name  was  Jesus,  son  of  Ananus,  which 
he  repeated  during  the  four  years  that  imme- 
diately preceded  the  ruin  of  Jerusalem.  This 
man  had  come  to  the  feast  of  the  tabernacles : 
and  suddenly  breaking  the  silence  of  the  cere- 
monies, he  exclaimed,  "Woe  to  the  temple! 
Woe  to  the  temple  !  A  voice  from  the  East, 
and  from  the  West,  and  from  the  four  winds 
of  heaven,  pronounces  woe  against  the  tem- 
ple, and  Jerusalem."  Running  from  street 
to  street,  he  repeated  these  denunciations  in- 

(1)  Jos.  bell.  7.  13.     (2)  Idem.  ibid. 


152  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

cessantly,  hotli  night  and  day  ;  the  magistrates 
inflicted  on  him  rigorous  punishments,  but 
instead  of  offering  any  excuse,  or  uttering  tlie 
least  complaint,  he  cried  out  the  louder :  "  Woe 
to  the  temple!  Woe  to  Jerusalem!"  At 
length,  the  Roman  governor  ordered  him  to 
be  scourged,  till  all  his  ribs  were  bared  :  un- 
der this  barbarous  torture,  he  shed  not  a  tear ; 
but  repeated  at  every  stroke,  in  a  tone,  still 
more  lamentable  and  denunciatory  :  "  Woe, 
woe  to  Jerusalem !"  They  urged  him  to  in- 
form them  whence  he  had  come,  and  to  ex- 
plain the  meaning  of  his  cries  :  but  they  could 
elicit  no  other  answer,  than  the  repeated 
woes  which  he  pronounced  with  redoubled 
vehemence.  It  was  observed  that  his  violent 
and  continual  exertions  weakened  not  his 
voice  :  on  the  contrary,  the  more  he  exclaim- 
ed, the  louder  and  stronger  it  became :  and 
three  years  after,  when  he  saw  Jerusalem  in- 
vested by  the  Romans,  going  round  the  walls 
and  ramparts  of  the  city,  he  cried  out,  without 
ceasing,  in  the  same  manner;  till  the  moment 
of  his  own  death  having  arrived,  he  exclaim- 
ed, '  Woe  to  myself!'  And  was  that  instant, 
pierced  by  an  arrow  shot  from  the  enemy. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CHURCH.  153 

The  Jews,  becoming  every  day  more  blind, 
rushed,  with  a  fury  bordering  on  insanity, 
to  tlieir  own  destruction.  They  massacred 
the  Roman  garrison  at  Massada;  and  for- 
bade the  usual  sacrifices  to  be  offered  for 
the  emperor.  This  was  the  signal  of  an 
open  and  avowed  rebellion.  Some  robbers 
from  the  surrounding  country,  uniting  with 
the  Sicarii,  attacked,  and  made  themselves 
masters  of,  the  fort  Antonia.  The  Romans, 
every  where  surprised,  were  driven  to  their 
last  hold  :  and  their  provisions  being  soon  ex- 
hausted, were  compelled  to  surrender  to 
the  Jews :  who,  in  violation  of  their  promise, 
put  all,  w  ithout  distinction,  to  the  sword. 

On  the  same  day,  twenty  thousand  Jews 
were  put  to  death  by  the  Romans  at  Ca^sarea, 
the  rendezvous  of  the  imperial  armies.  On 
receiving  this  intelligence,  the  whole  Jewish 
nation  were  seized  with  a  kind  of  phrenzy. 
They  took  possession  of  every  town  and  city 
which  they  could  enter:  demolished,  or  set 
fire  to,  the  houses ;  and  murdered  the  in- 
habitants. 


154  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

The  Syrians,  on  tlie  other  hand,  were 
no  less  cruel,  in  the  retahation  which  they 
inflicted  on  the  Jews.  They  fell  on  them 
wherever  they  discovered  that  they  were  too 
feeble  to  resist,  and  massacred  all  without 
mercy  or  distinction. 

Even  the  Jews  residing  at  Scythopolis,  in  or- 
der to  purchase  the  favour  of  the  Syrians,  who 
were  more  numerous  than  themselves,  treach- 
erously engaged  to  fight  against  their  bre- 
thren, who  were  laying  waste  the  country. 
The  Syrians,  pretending  to  distrust  the  sin- 
cerity of  this  promise,  required  that  all  the 
Jews,  with  their  families,  should  repair  to  a 
neighbouring  wood.  They  did  so  :  and  more 
than  thirteen  thousand  were  indiscriminately 
butchered.  Simon  who  had  been  the  princi- 
pal instigator  of  the  base  conduct  of  the  Scy- 
thopolitan  Jews,  on  witnessing  the  tragical  ef- 
fects of  Ids  perfidy  and  ingratitude,  abandon- 
ed himself  to  despair.  "  I  have  deserved 
this  punishment,"  he  exclaimed,  "  l)y  my 
treacherous  advice ;  and  I  alone  shall  inflict 
upon  myself  the  chastisement  I  deserve." — 
Uttering  these  words,  he  seized  hold  of  the 


HISTORY  OF  THE   CHURCH.  155 

grey  hairs  of  his  father,  and  pierced  him  with 
his  sword;  his  mother,  wife,  and  children 
shared  the  same  fate :  and  then  with  a  hi- 
deous and  haggard  look,  raising  on  high  his 
dagger,  still  reeking  with  the  blood  of  his  pa- 
rents  and  children,  he  plunged  it  into  his  own 
breast,  and  expired. 

All  the  cities  of  Syria,  except  those  of  An- 
tioch,  and  Sidon,  treated  the  unfortunate  Jews 
with  similar  inhumanity.  The  streets  were 
choked  up  with  their  carcasses :  the  old  and 
the  young;  the  armed  and  the  defenceless, 
were  confounded  in  the  jj^eneral  carnaafc  :  and 
the  bodies  deprived  of  their  clothes,  were 
publicly  exposed,  to  the  mockery  of  the  i)eo- 
ple. 

In  Egypt  they  experienced  a  still  greater 
cruelty.  The  citizens  of  Alexandria  were,  on 
a  certain  occasion,  assembled  in  the  amphi- 
theatre: it  chanced  that  some  Jews  made 
their  appearance ;  the  enemies  of  their  nation 
vociferated  that  they  were  spies,  and  traitors. 
The  Jews  began,  immediately,  to  fly :  three 
were  made  prisoners :  and  the  Alexandrians 
were  preparing  to  satisfy  their  animosity  and 


156  HISTORY  OF  TIIF  CHURCH. 

savage  revenge,  by  l)iirniii<»  tlicm  alive,  wiien 
the  otlier  Jews  ran  from  every  quarter  of  tlie 
city,  to  the  succoiu'  of  their  brethren  :  each 
came  armed  with  a  burning  torch,  with  which 
it  was  tlieir  intention  to  set  fire  to  the  amphi- 
theatre in  which  the  multitude  was  assem- 
bled. Two  Roman  legions,  and  an  army  of 
five  hundred  African  veterans,  were  instantly 
ordered  under  arms,  with  a  command,  not  to 
shew  any  quarters  to  the  Hebrews  :  to  pillage 
their  houses;  and  consign  to  the  flames  the 
section  of  the  city,  which  they  inhabited.  The 
Roman  troops  attacked  them  in  an  iso- 
lated place.  They  met  with  desperate  re- 
sistance ;  but  at  last  sinking  under  the  fierce 
and  resistless  shock  of  the  enemy,  the  Jews 
gave  way:  and  their  quarter  of  the  city  was 
literally  deluged  in  blood.  The  reader  will 
deem  this  no  exaggeration,  when  he  learns, 
that  the  dead  bodies  being  afterwards  num- 
bered, amounted  to  fifty  thousand.  The 
governor  appalled  by  the  horrid  spectacle, 
commanded  the  legions  to  retire :  but  it  was 
impossible  to  check  the  fury  of  the  undiscip- 
lined barbarians  ;  much  less  of  the  populace, 


HISTgRY    OF    THE     CHURCH.  157 

who  after  putting  to  the  sword  all  whom  they 
could  reach,  gratified  their  dark  revenge, 
by  insulting  and  lacerating  the  bodies  of  the 
dead. 

In  the  meantime,  Cestius  Gallus,  governor 
of  Syria,  with  an  army  of  legionary  and  auxili- 
ary troops,  invested  the  capital  and  the  tem- 
ple, of  which  the  rebels  had  at  first  taken  pos- 
session. He  vigourously  assaulted  them :  and 
then  feigned  a  precipitate  fiight :  this  strata- 
gem had  its  effect :  the  Jews  emboldened  by 
their  apparent  success,  made  a  furious  sally 
on  the  troops  of  Gallus,  and  pursued  the  fugi- 
tive enemy  to  the  distance  of  several  leagues. 

After  this  specious  advantage,  it  was  in  vain 
to  think  of  inducing  them  to  submit  to  the  Ro- 
mans :  on  the  contrary,  they  assumed  a  bold 
stand  :  and  determined  to  make  preparations 
for  a  long  and  serious  war. 

The  Israelites,  who  had  been  converted  to 
Christianity,  took  no  part,  it  must  be  observed, 
in  this  insurrection  :  mindful  of  the  terrible 
predictions  of  the  Son  of  God,  and  in  pursu- 
ance of  his  admonition,  they  fled  towards  the 
mountains,  and  took  refuge  in  the  little  town 
of  Pella,  on  the  frontiers  of  Syria. 


158  HISTORY  OF  Tin:  cwuucii. 

In  this  conjuncture,  when  the  fate  ol'  Jeru- 
salem was  to  be  iletermined,  the  conduct  of 
the  war  was  transferred  from  Cestius  G alius 
to  Vespasian.  Every  thing  now  began  to 
assume  a  diiferent  aspect.  That  celebrated 
general,  having  collected  an  army  of  more 
than  sixty  thousand  men,  marched  through 
Galilee;  reducing  to  his  obedience,  without 
any  resistance,  every  place,  except  the  city  of 
Jotapat ;  of  which,  the  historian  Josephus,  a 
brave  and  experienced  officer,  commanded  the 
garrison.  This  place  held  out  a  siege  of  for- 
ty days;  at  the  expiration  of  which,  it  was  ta- 
ken and  destroyed.  Of  the  besieged  army, 
nearly  half  perished  :  the  remnant  was  com- 
j)elled  to  ily  for  refuge  into  caverns,  where 
they  fell  by  each  other's  hands.  Josephus 
chose  rather  to  throw  himself  on  tlie  mercy 
of  the  conqueror :  and  calculating  as  well  on 
the  military  talents  and  superior  valour  of 
Vespasian,  as  on  the  peculiar  condition  in 
which  the  empire  then  was,  he  is  said  to  have 
observed:  that  the  general,  "would  restore 
him  to  liberty,  after  being  made  emperor  of 
Rome:  and  that  event,  he  added,  is  not  far 
distant." 


HISTORY    OF    THE  CHURCH.  159 

Affairs  were  in  this  posture,  when  the 
Romans,  disgnsted  and  wearied  with  the 
tyranny  and  brutish  excesses  of  Nero,  dis- 
patched that  bane  of  the  empire  and  of  man- 
kind :  that  imperial  monster,  the  enemy  ahke 
of  heaven  and  earth,  was  the  first  to  un- 
sheath  the  sword  of  persecution  against  the 
peaceable  and  inoffensive  Christians  :  not  sa- 
tisfied with  imbruing  his  hands  in  their  guilt- 
less blood,  he  even  published  against  them  a 
formal  edict. 

"Surely,  says  Tertullian,  (1)  speaking  on 
this  subject,  that  religion  must  have  had  some- 
thing in  it  more  than  human,  against  which, 
a  Nero  raised  the  first  signal  of  persecution." 
Even  pagan  historians  speak  with  execration, 
of  the  cruelties,  which  this  tyrant  inflicted 
on  the  followers  of  Christ ;  especially  on  the 
occasion  of  the  conflagration  of  Rome :  of 
which  he  was  the  sole  author.  This  awful 
spectacle  was  to  him,  at  first,  a  subject  of  sa- 
vage exultation  ;  but  dreading  the  resentment 
of  the  people  driven  to  desperation  by  such 
an  act  of  wanton  wickedness,  he  accused  the 

(1)  Tert.  Apol. 


160  HISTORY  OP  THE  CHURCH. 

Christians  of  that  crime,  says  Suetonius,  (1) 
and  condemned  them  to  suffer  unheard  of 
torments.  Tliey  were,  continues  that  Ijisto- 
rian,  not  only  fastened  to  crosses,  but  some 
were  covered  with  the  skins  of  beasts,  and 
mangled  by  dogs ;  (2)  some  were  steeped  in 
large  caldrons  of  melted  pitch,  and  after- 
wards set  on  fire  like  torches,  to  disperse  the 
darkness  of  the  night.  This  was  the  kind  of 
tyranny  in  which  Nero  took  most  delight. 
Dressed  in  the  habit  of  a  charioteer,  he  re- 
galed himself,  from  his  gardens,  with  the  sight 
of  their  torments,  and  gratified  the  vengeance 
of  the  people,  with  the  horrid  spectacle.  The  • 
persecution  was  not  confined  to  Rome :  at  Mi- 
lan, Saints  Gervasius  and  Protasius,  Celsus 
and  Nazarius,  suffered  martyrdom.  Nero  was 
the  more  prodigal  of  the  blood  of  the  Chris- 
tians, as  he  had  nothing  to  fear  from  men, 

« 

whose  only  study  it  was  to  suffer  with  pa- 
tience, and  obey  with  resignation. 

But  his  idolatrous  subjects  were  not  so  in- 
sensible to  the  sufferings  of  this  life  :  a  gene- 
ral discontent   soon  appeared  among  them  : 

(1)  Suet  Ner.  c.  16.  (2)  Juv.  Sat.  1  and  8.  Sen.ep.  14. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  161 

they  openly  rebelled,  and  proclaimed  Galba 
emperor.  Nero,  whose  mind  was  as  weak  as 
his  heart  was  cruel,  was  paralysed,  and  driven 
almost  to  insanity  by  excessive  fear;  he  bewail- 
ed, but  took  no  measures  to  avert,  his  fate ;  at 
length,  awakened  from  his  lethargy  by  the  ap- 
proach of  death,  he  fled,  under  the  disguise  of  a 
tattered  cloak,  to  the  country  seat  of  his  freed- 
man  Pliaon  :  parched  with  thirst,  he  was  re- 
duced to  the  necessity  of  drinking  ditch  wa- 
ter, from  the  hollow  of  his  hands.  In  the 
mean  time,  the  senate  had  condemned  him  to 
be  scourged  to  death:  and  soon  after  his  arrival 
at  the  country  seat,  hearing  the  sound  of  the 
horses'  hoofs,  as  the  executioners  of  the  sen- 
tence were  approaching,  he  pierced  his  own 
throat,  with  a  poignard  which  he  had  provided, 
in  case  of  necessity,  for  that  purpose.  He 
died  in  the  year  of  Christ  seventy ;  on  the 
ninth  of  June,  the  anniversary  of  the  day  on 
which  he  imbrued  his  hands  in  the  blood  of 
his  own  mother. 

Galba,  was  acknowledged  emperor  by  all 
orders  of  the  people.  On  his  accession,  he 
was  seventy  years  of  age:  he  wielded  the 

VOL.   I. — 11 


1G2  HISTORY    OF    THE    CHURCH. 

imperial  sceptre  only  nine  months,  and  was 
assassinated  by  his  soldiers,  at  the  instigation 
of  Otho,  who  was  immediately  raised  to  the 
throne.  Otho,  however,  found  a  competitor 
in  Vitellius :  the  army  of  the  Lower  Rhine, 
declared  at  the  same  time,  in  favour  of  his  ri- 
val ;  a  battle  was  fought  in  Italy ;  Otho  was 
defeated :  and  put  an  end  to  his  life,  after  a 
reign  of  three  months.  On  the  other  hand, 
the  legions  of  Syria  hearing  of  the  death  of 
the  last  emperor  of  the  blood  of  the  Caesars, 
and  of  the  attempt  and  success  of  the  German 
armies,  forced  their  general  Vespasian  to  ac- 
cept the  sovereign  power.  He  accordingly 
set  out  from  Palestine,  leaving  his  son  Titus 
to  prosecute  the  siege  of  Jerusalem.  As  soon 
as  the  news  of  this  event  was  heard  at  Rome, 
Vitellius  was  murdered  by  the  people  ;  and 
his  body  flung  into  the  Tiber.  His  victorious 
rival,  assured  of  the  esteem  and  aff'ection  of 
the  whole  empire,  only  waited  a  favourable 
opportunity  to  embark  for  Rome.  He  was 
then  at  Alexandria. 

The    superstitious   citizens    believed    that 
Vespasian  possessed   the  power  of  working 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  163 

miracles  ;  so  that,  by  some,  he  was  mistaken 
for  the  Messiah  :  his  power  daily  increased : 
not  only  the  Jews,  but  all  the  Eastern  nations, 
according  to  Suetonius  (1)  and  Tacitus,  (2) 
were  impressed  with  a  conviction,  originating 
in  the  holy  scriptures,  that,  at  this  epoch,  was 
to  rise  out  of  Palestine  a  conqueror,  who 
should  rule  the  universe.  Thus  did  they  con- 
found the  temporal,  with  the  spiritual,  reign  of 
the  Messiah. 

The  Israelites  understood  these  prophe- 
cies, as  applicable,  in  a  carnal  sense,  to  the 
Redeemer :  and  the  courtiers  of  Vespasian 
complimented  him  with  the  title  of  the  "Great 
Conqueror  of  Nations,"  foretold  by  the  pro- 
phets and  oracles ;  even  Josephus  (3)  was  not 
ashamed,  though  a  Jew,  to  stoop  to  this  sacri- 
legious and  unmeaning  flattery. 

Meantime  the  conduct  of  Titus,  who  re- 
mained in  Palestine,  was  characterised  by  that 
clemency,  and  wisdom,  which  afterwards 
made  him  the  delight  of  Rome.  He  was  se- 
conded, in  his  love  for  peace,  by  all  the  vir- 
tuous and  judicious  personages,  who  were 

(1)  Suet.  Vesp.  c.  4.    (2)  Tac.  Hist.  5.  (3)  Jqs.  liell.  iii.  21. 


164  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCir. 

still  to  be  found  among  the  Jews  :  but  the  in- 
fatuated multitude  were  determined  to  resist, 
and  if  possible,  to  annihilate  the  power  of 
Rome ;  impiously  grounding  their  hopes  of 
success  in  Him,  whom  their  impieties  had  out- 
rageously offended. 

A  set  of  impostors  called  Zelotae,  from  the 
zeal  which  they  affected  for  religion,  flocked 
to  Jerusalem,  from  the  neighbouring  villages, 
and  made  every  quarter  of  the  city  a  scene  of 
tumult  and  of  plunder.  The  pontiff  Ananias, 
who  was  still  reverenced  by  the  people,  for  his 
age  and  experience,  excited  the  great  body  of 
the  citizens  to  oppose  them ;  but  all  his  ef- 
forts were  unable  to  dislodge  them  from  the 
temple,  of  which  they  had  taken  possession. 
They  confederated  with  the  Idumeans :  and 
these  barbarians,  to  the  number  of  twenty 
thousand,  soon  appeared  before  the  gates  of 
the  city.  They  united  together  under  the  covert 
of  a  dark  and  tempestuous  night,  and  rushed 
upon  their  unsuspecting  enemies.  Five  hun- 
dred perished  amidst  the  horrors  of  that  fatal 
night. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  165 

The  Idumeans,  after  this,  spread  themselves 
through  the  city :  and  their  steps  were  every 
vi^here  marked  with  human  blood. 

After  this  success,  the  tyranny  of  the  fac- 
tion was  excessive.  They  accused  all  who 
were  obnoxious  to  their  party,  of  being  favour- 
able to  the  Romans :  and  this  accusation  was 
invariably  followed  by  death.  Death  itself  did 
not  screen  the  victims  of  their  fury  :  they  for- 
bade them  the  rights  of  sepulture  :  and  rather 
than  mitigate  the  rigour  of  that  inhuman  mea- 
sure, suffered  their  bodies  to  rot  in  the  pub- 
lic streets,  and  spread  infection  through  the 
city. 

At  last,  these  wretches  split  into  two  fac- 
tions :  at  the  head  of  one  stood  a  fanatic, 
whose  name  was  John.  The  other  was  head- 
ed by  one  Simon ;  who  gathering  together  a 
multitude  of  robbers  and  murderers,  plunder- 
ed the  adjoining  towns,  and  reduced  all  Idu- 
mea  under  his  subjection.  The  Sicarii,  at 
first,  endeavoured  to  oppose  his  progress: 
but  having  defeated  them,  in  several  battles, 
he  encamped  before  the  gates  of  the  capital 
with  thirty  thousand  men. 


166  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

There  could  not  have  occurred  a  conjunc*- 
ture  more  agreeable  to  his  wishes.  The  pub- 
he  hatred  for  John  had  reached  its  summit. 
Besides  his  own  jiersonal  ferocity,  he  was  un- 
able to  restrain  that  of  the  banditti,  which  had 
placed  him  at  their  head  :  cruel  to  excess,  and 
not  less  voluptuous  than  cruel,  they  abandon- 
doned  themselves  to  acts  of  shameless  impu- 
rities. After  violating  the  chastity  of  the 
most  respectable  ladies  of  Jerusalem,  they  as- 
sumed their  dress  and  imitated  their  deport- 
ment, and  abandoned  themselves  to  crimes 
which  history  would  blush  to  mention.  The 
people  deemed  any  resource  expedient  in 
these  calamitous  circumstances  ;  opened  their 
gates  to  Simon,  and  delivered  themselves  up 
to  the  mercy  of  his  ruthless  followers. 

The  city  then  saw  itself  harrassed,  at  once, 
by  three  factions:  two  of  the  Zelotre,  led 
on  by  John  and  Eleazar  ;  and  that  of  Simon 
to  whose  standard  the  Sicarii  had  again  re- 
sorted. These  factions  waged  against  one 
another  an  exterminating  warfare :  burned 
the  greater  part  of  the  outer  buildings 
of  the  temple ;  and  consimied,  together  with 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CHURCH.  167 

them,  the  corn  which  was  there  laid  up  in  abund- 
ance :  and  thus  cut  ofif  the  only  means  wliich 
remained  of  holding  out  an  obstinate  siege. 
But  when  there  was  question  of  opposing  the 
Romans,  all  parties  became  united :  and  the 
Zelotae,  Sicarii,  and  Idumeans,  with  a  devotion, 
which  fanaticism  alone  could  inspire,  offered 
sacrifice  together  at  the  same  altar.  But  this 
union  was  soon  to  be  dissolved :  and  this  de- 
votion only  served  to  profane  a  sacrifice,  on 
which  tlie  Almighty  no  longer  looked  with 
complacency.  During  the  ceremony  a  misun- 
derstanding occurred  :  and  jealousy  kindling 
into  rage,  they  fell  upon  one  another  ;  and  the 
blood  of  men,  priests  and  victims,  flowed  in 
one  copious  stream. 

Tlie  Romans,  apprised  of  these  disorders, 
did  not  immediately  direct  their  attack  against 
the  capital :  but  contented  themselves  with 
ravaging  the  country  and  cutting  off  from  the 
city,  all  means  of  subsistence.  After  spread- 
ing devastation  in  every  direction,  Titus,  at 
length,  commenced  his  operations,  at  the  dis- 
tance of  about  six  furlongs  from  the  city :  he 
was  at  the  head  of  four  Roman  legions,  and 


168  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

the  auxiliary  troops  of  Agrippa ;  together  with 
those  of  tlie  kings  of  Emesa  and  Arabia.  He 
pitched  his  camp  on  mount  Ohvet:  it  was  from 
this  very  mountain  that  Christ  surveyed  Je- 
rusalem, and  wept  over  it. 

In  consequence  of  the  solemnity  of  the  pass- 
over,  the  city  was  thronged  with  a  vast  multi- 
tude of  people,  who  had  assembled  to  celebrate 
that  great  festival.  The  Romans  ascertained 
that  the  number  of  lambs  consumed  at  the 
last  celebration  of  that  festival,  exceeded  two 
hundred  and  fifty  thousand.  The  multitude 
that  attended  it  must  consequently  have  been 
immense  :  (1)  famine  soon  began  to  make  its 
ravages :  and  the  infection,  caused  by  the 
dead  bodies  which  were  left  unburied  in  the 
streets,  rendered  the  horror  of  the  scene  inde- 
scribable. 

In  the  year  72,  on  the  feast  of  Azymes, 
which  fell,  that  year,  on  the  fourteenth  of 
April,  the  Zelotee  having  possession  of  the  in- 


(1)  It  is  not  difficult  to  imagine  the  number,,  of  persons  at 
this  period,  within  the  walls  of  Jerusalem.  I'here  were,  as 
the  reader  saw  in  the  text,  more  than  two  hundred  and  fifty 
thousand  lambs:  allowing  tlien  ten  persons  to  each  lamb,  there 
will  be  two  millions  five  hundred  thousand  souls. 


HISTORY  OP  THE  CHURCH.  169 

terior  of  the  temple,  opened  its  gates  to  the 
people,  who  had  come  to  offer  their  adora- 
tions. John,  stationed  in  the  first  enclosure, 
despatched,  through  the  city,  a  body  of  his 
followers,  with  daggers  concealed  beneath 
their  garments  :  in  an  unexpected  hour,  they 
fell  upon  the  partizans  of  Eleazar;  slew 
many  and  made  themselves  masters  of  the 
interior,  as  well  as  the  exterior,  of  that 
vast  edifice.  After  this,  the  faction  of  Elea- 
zar became  extinct :  and  there  remained  but 
one  portion  of  the  Zelotge,  headed  by  the  im- 
placable John :  but  the  Sicarii,  stimulated 
by  the  ambitious  Simon,  continued  the  work 
of  discord  and  desolation. 

Titus,  at  the  head  of  six  hundred  horse, 
approached  the  city  to  reconnoitre.  He  im- 
agined, and  hoped,  that  the  Jews,  agitated  by 
intestine  commotions,  and  harrassed  by  do- 
mestic quarrels,  would  gladly  open  their  gates, 
and  hail  him  as  their  deliverer ;  but  instead  of 
this,  the  besieged  made  a  sudden  and  despe- 
rate sally  on  the  Roman  troops :  and  Titus 
narrowly  escaped  with  his  life.  The  follow- 
ing day,  he  approached  with  greater  circum- 


17U  IILSTOKV  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

spection,  and  drew  up  his  army  ahnost  under 
the  very  walls  of  the  city. 

The  local  situation  of  Jerusalem  was  pe- 
culiarly adapted  to  hold  out  a  siej^e :  it  was 
fortified  both  by  art  and  nature  :  the  city  was 
built  on  two  hills,  and  defended  by  a  triple 
wall,  wherever  an  assault  was  practiea])le. 
On  the  third  of  May  the  siege  commenced : 
fifteen  days  after,  the  Roman  army  forced  their 
way  through  the  first  enclosure  and  took  pos- 
session of  the  Northern  part  of  the  city,  as  far 
as  the  valley  of  Cedron :  beyond  which  there 
were  two  other  walls  to  be  broken  down,  be- 
fore they  could  enter  the  heart  of  the  city. 
Hoping  and  believing  that  the  Jews  would  ca- 
pitulate, Titus  remained,  for  some  time,  inac- 
tive :  but  after  an  interval  of  five  days,  he 
forced  the  second  wall,  not  without  several 
desperate  conHict*. :  he  there  allo^d  his  ar- 
my a  short  time  to  breathe  :  and  during  this 
period  of  repose,  he  eaniestly  exhorted  the 
Jews  to  submit;  for  his  humane  and  benevo- 
lent heart  shiuldcred  at  the  idea  of  their  total 
destruction. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  171 

The  better  to  accomplish  this  end,  he  de- 
spatched Josephus  into  the  city,  to  expostu- 
hite  with  his  obdurate  countrymen  :  but  not- 
withstanding his  pathetic  and  cogent  persua- 
sions, he  was  loaded  with  reproaches,  and 
sent  back  with  scorn.  The  two  tyrants,  John 
and  Simon,  redoubled  their  vigilance  :  and 
deliberately  put  to  death  all  who  dared  to  ap- 
proach the  gates,  without  their  special  per- 
mission. 

In  the  meantime  the  famine  increased: 
spread  through  every  quarter  of  the  city,  and 
made  a  general  havoc :  the  wretch,  whose 
misfortune  it  was  to  be  in  good  health,  and  in 
vigour,  was  instantly  put  to  the  torture,  and 
forced  to  disclose  where  his  j)rovisions  were 
concealed. 

The  horror  of  their  situation  was  aggrava- 
ted by  the  licentiousness  of  the  factious  sol- 
diers. The  house  wliose  doors  were  closed, 
was  immediately  destroyed  :  the  women  were 
dragged  from  their  last  morsel,  trampled  un- 
der foot,  or  dashed  against  the  pavemeiit,  !»y 
the  ferocious  intruders.  They  even  tore  from 
the  unfortunate  wretehes,  tfie  Tew  roots  ^vhich 


172  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

tliey  had  collected,  out  of  the  walls  of  the 
city,  at  the  peril  of  their  lives:  for  all  who 
were  apprehended  without  the  city,  were  cru- 
cified as  a  terror  to  the  rebels.  Sometimes 
more  than  five  hundred  suffered  this  kind  of 
death  in  a  single  night :  so  that,  after  some- 
time, crosses  were  wanting  on  which  to  sus- 
pend the  stragglers.  Thus  by  a  terrible,  but 
just  judgment,  did  that  deicidal  nation  suffer 
a  chastisement,  analagous  to  the  crime,  to 
which,  as  to  its  primitive  cause,  all  their  ca- 
lamities may  be  traced. 

The  Romans  erected  several  batteries, 
which  were,  immediately,  destroyed  by  the 
besieged  :  emboldened  by  this  success,  the 
Jews  made  a  vigorous  sally  on  the  besiegers, 
and  having  destroyed  a  considerable  number 
of  them,  retreated  back  to  the  city.  Titus 
then  resolved  to  surround  with  a  trench,  six 
miles  in  circumference,  that  part  of  Jerusa- 
lem which  still  remained  in  possession  of  the 
Jews;  thus  literally  fulfilling,  without  knowing 
it,  the  prediction  of  Jesus  Christ. 

After  this  circumvallation,   the  ravages  of 
famine  and  pestilence  converted  the  whole 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  17^ 

city  into  one  vast  charnel  house.  The  streets 
were  filled  up  with  dead  bodies :  through  a 
single  gate,  in  the  space  of  ten  weeks,  sixteen 
thousand  corpses  were  carried  out ;  a  regular 
account  was  kept;  that  the  men,  commission- 
ed to  bury  them,  might  be  paid.  In  a  short 
time,  it  became  impossible  to  remove  them: 
the  air  was  impregnated  with  pestilential 
vapours :  the  infection  reached  even  to  the 
camp  of  Titus  :  who  raising  his  eyes  to  hea- 
ven, with  a  deep  sigh,  solemnly  called  God  to 
witness,  that  the  calamities  and  woes  of  the 
Jews  were  not  to  be  attributed  to  his  army, 
but  to  their  obduracy.  The  deep  despair, 
the  sullen  repinings,  the  anguish,  the  melan- 
choly, and  confusion  of  the  Jews,  may  be  more 
easily  conceived  by  the  reader,  than  described 
by  the  historian. 

The  garrison,  however,  still  continued  to 
deceive  themselves  with  the  fond  hope  of  ul- 
timate success ;  and  many  false  prophets  de- 
luded the  mass  of  the  people  with  a  promise 
of  the  divine  assistance. 

As  many  of  the  more  rational,  as  could  es- 
cape, took  refuge  in  the  Roman  camp :  where 


174  HISTORY  OP  THE  CHURCH. 

several  died  by  overcliargin<r  their  stomachs 
with  food.  Some  of  these  deserters  had 
swallowed  pieces  of  gold,  as  the  only  means 
of  secnrin<^  the  remnant  of  their  fortunes 
ai^ainst  the  rapacity  of  the  soldiers  ;  one  of 
these  was  accidently  surprised  by  a  Syrian 
soldier,  in  the  act  of  collecting  the  gold  from 
his  excrements  ;  immediately,  the  report  was 
circulated  through  the  camp,  that  the  Jews 
who  fled  from  the  city,  had  their  entrails 
stored  with  gold  :  this  report  excited  the  ava- 
rice of  the  Roman  army:  they  way-laid  the 
deserters  from  Jerusalem  ;  and  ripped  open 
the  bellies  of  two  thousand  Jews,  in  the  space 
of  one  night.  Titus  forbade  these  atrocities 
under  pain  of  death  ;  but  they  were  still  con- 
tinued in  defiance  of  his  orders,  though  with 
greater  secrecy. 

At  length,  Titus,  seeing  that  it  was  useless 
to  procrastinate  any  longer,  and  fearing  lest 
the  foreign  auxiliaries  should  desert  his  stand- 
ard, began  to  make  preparations  to  batter 
down  the  third,  and  last  wall.  This,  with  im- 
mense labour,  and  the  loss  of  a  great  part  of 
his  army,  he  effected:  entered  through  the 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  l75 

breach  made  in  the  wall  by  the  battering  rani, 
and  became  master  of  the  lower  part  of  the 
city.  The  famine  was  now  universal :  and 
had  spread  even  among  the  soldiers  of  the 
garrison ;  perishing  with  hunger,  they  gnawed 
the  leather  of  their  bucklers:  a  few  roots  were 
now  considered  an  extraordinary  luxury.  The 
following  story  of  a  Jewish  lady  will  present 
to  the  reader  a  faint  idea  of  the  horrors  of 
these  times  :  this  lady  was  named  Mary  ;  (1) 
distinguished  by  her  birth  and  great  riches ; 
she  had  come  from  the  vicinity  of  the  Jordan, 
to  celebrate  the  pasch ;  in  a  short  time  she 
saw  herself  stripped  of  every  resource,  and  un- 
able to  support  her  life :  growing  wild  with 
hunger,  and  reduced  to  the  last  extremity, 
fixing  her  haggard  eyes  on  the  infant  which 
she  suckled  at  her  breast,  she  exclaimed : — 
"  Unfortunate  child !  Why  should  I  spare  thy 
life,  whose  fate  it  must  be  either  to  suffer  a 
thousand  miseries  before  thy  death  ;  or  to  be 
reduced  to  a  shameful  servitude  ?  No !  Bet- 
ter for  thee  to  die,  than  be  a  pagan's  slave." 
Saying  this,  she  thrust  a  knife  into  the  breast 

(1)  Jos.  vii.  7. 


176  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

of  her  child  :  roasted  and  devoured  one  half 
of  the  flesli,  and  reserved  the  other  for  another 
meal.  The  odour  soon  reached,  and  attract- 
ed, the  fiimished  soldiers :  with  their  naked 
swords  pointed  at  her  breast,  they  command- 
ed her  to  deliver  up  all  the  meat  which  she 
had  concealed.  "  I  have  kept  it  for  you,  she 
replied,  here  it  is,  eat  it :"  and  threw  the 
mangled  trunk  at  their  feet.  Famished  and 
ferocious  as  they  were,  they  stood  paralysed 
and  aghast.  "  Behold,  she  resumed,  the 
remnant  of  my  own  child,  killed  by  my  own 
hands  :  its  flesh  I  have  roasted  ;  and  have  eat- 
en a  part  of  it :  surely  you  are  not  more  deli- 
cate than  a  woman,  and  have  not  more  sensi- 
bility than  a  mother."  Overcome  by  this  m- 
human  spectacle,  their  blood  ran  cold,  and 
they  fled  with  horror.  The  tale  soon  reach- 
ed the  Roman  camp  :  by  some  it  was  deemed 
too  frightful  to  be  believed :  by  others  it  was 
heard  with  pity :  by  the  most  part  with  indig- 
nation. Titus  again  protested  before  God, 
that  the  Jews  persisted  in  war  :  and  had  re- 
fused the  peace  and  rejected  the  amnesty 
which  he  had  oflered  them. 


HISTORY    OP    THE    CHURCH.  177 

But  if  the  clemency  of  Titus  increased,  liis  sol- 
diers were  resolved  on  exterminating  the  Jew- 
ish  nation.  The  Christians  who  had  fled  to  Pel- 
la,  heard  of  these  disasters  with  religious  ter- 
ror :  and  recognized  the  literal  accomplish- 
ment of  the  words  which  the  Redeemer  ad- 
dressed to  the  daughters  of  Sion  as  he  bore  his 
cross  to  mount  Calvary :  that  "  a  day  should 
come,  when  they  should  pronounce  the  bar- 
ren womb  happy  ;  happy  the  breasts  that  had 
never  given  suck." 

The  Jews  were  still  in  possession  of  the 
temple,  and  the  citadel,  which  of  itself 
formed,  as  it  were,  a  distinct  place.  Every 
effort  was  made  to  dislodge  them  from  their 
position:  a  general  consternation  pervaded 
the  people,  in  consequence  of  the  cessation  of 
the  perjietual  sacrifice.  On  the  tenth  day  of 
July,  they  discovered  that  it  was  impossible  to 
offer  sacrifice,  according  to  the  law  ;  because 
they  saw  themselves  deprived  both  of  priests 
and  victims.  But  verifying  still  more  fatally 
what  the  prophet  had  foretold,  they  saw  not, 
in  the  midst  of  their  woes  and  abandonment, 
the  consummation  of  their  malediction  :  their 

VOL.  I. — 12 


178  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

hopes  were  how  centered  in  the  high  and 
solid  walls  of  the  temple  ;  which  the  besiege 
ers  fonnd  impossible  to  scale,  or  make  any 
impression  upon  with  the  battering  ram.  On 
the  eighth  of  August,  Titus  found  it  necessa- 
ry to  set  fire  to  the  gates  of  the  second  enclo- 
sure of  the  temple.  The  fire  reached  the 
galleries  which  formed  a  communication  be- 
tween the  temple,  and  the  citadel :  and  the 
conflagration  continued  during  the  following 
niffht.  In  the  meanwhile  the  Roman  forces 
made  a  bold  assault :  in  which  Titus  perform- 
ed prodigies  of  valour.  The  soldiers  climbed 
up  the  ramparts  which  they  thought  the  Jews 
had  abandoned  :  but  scarcely  had  they  plant- 
ed their  eagles  on  its  summit,  before  they 
were  charged  upon  with  unexampled  fury. 
Neither  valour  nor  discipline  could  withstand 
the  shock :  the  besiegers  were  precipitated 
from  the  battlements :  and  their  standards 
were  carried  off  in  triumph  by  the  Jewish 
army. 

In  the  midst  of  this  confusion,  a  Roman  soldier, 
(1)  urged  on  by  a  secret,  and,  accordingto  Jose- 

(1)  Jos.vii.  10. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CHURCH.  179 

plius,  a  supernatural  impulse,  snatching  up  a  fire 
brand,  thrust  it  into  the  houses  adjoining 
the  temple  :  and  notwithstanding  the  active 
exertions  of  Titus  to  save  the  magnificent 
building,  the  wonder  and  even  veneration  of  all 
the  nations  of  the  earth,  the  flame  spread  it- 
self in  every  direction,  and  reduced  the  au- 
gust edifice  to  ashes.  The  agony  of  the  Jews 
at  the  sight  of  their  temple  in  ruins,  became 
indescribable  :  they  were  now  persuaded  that 
heaven  had  abandoned  them :  the  city  re- 
echoed with  dismal  shrieks  and  lamentations. 
Even  some  who  were  gasping  in  the  agonies 
of  death,  lifted  up  their  dying  eyes,  for 
the  last  time,  and  bitterly  bewailed  the  de- 
struction of  the  temple.  This  great  and  de- 
cisive event  occurred  on  the  same  day,  and  in 
the  same  month  in  which  the  temple,  built  by 
Solomon,  was  destroyed  by  Nabuchodonosor  : 
that  fatal  day  was  the  tenth  of  August,  in  the 
year  of  Christ  seventy-two.  The  most  despe- 
rate of  the  Jewish  soldiers  rallied  under 
John  and  Simon,  and  fled  to  the  higher  city, 
which  they  resolved  to  defend  at  any  peril. 
An  immense  crowd  of  fanatics  perished  in  the 


180  HISTORY  OP  THE  CHURCH, 

temple;  and  among  these  were  six  thousand 
men,  women,  and  children  who  had  put  them- 
selves under  the  protection  of  a  false  pro])het 
from  the  lower  city,  deceived  by  the  promise 
of  a  speedy  deliverance. 

The  upper  part  of  the  city,  whither  the  fol- 
lowers of  John  and  Simon  had  fled,  was  built  on 
mount  Sion  :  and  its  situation,  which  they  be- 
lieved impregnable,  inspired  the  surviving 
rebels  with  fresh  courage.  But  Titus,  after 
great  labour,  reduced  it  to  ashes,  on  the 
eighth  of  September ;  and  put  all  the  garri- 
son to  the  sword.  If  any  part  had  escaped 
the  flames, he  immediately  demolished  it:  and 
caused  the  plough  to  be  drawn  over  the  whole: 
thus  fulfilling  the  prophecy,  and  verifying  the 
demmciation  of  (lie  Redeemer:  that  in  that 
place  of  malediction,  one  stone  should  not  be 
left  upon  another. 

The  plunder  was  so  great  that  gold  was  re- 
duced to  half  its  value,  in  the  neighbouring 
provinces :  John  and  Simon  were  dragged 
from  the  vaults,  in  which  they  had  concealed 
themselves :  the  former  was  imprisoned  for 
life :  the  latter  reserved  to  grace  the  conquer- 
or's triumph. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  181 

It  is  impossible  to  specify,  with  certainty, 
the  number  of  IsraeUtes  who  perished  in  this 
war ;  the  most  fatal  that  has  ever  been  record- 
ed in  the  history  of  nations.  Josephus  tells 
us  (1)  that  eleven  hundred  thousand  died  du- 
ring the  siege.  The  captives  amounted  to 
nearly  one  hundred  thousand.  They  were 
reduced  to  slavery :  but  scarcely  would  any 
one  deign  to  buy  them.  (2)  The  soldiers  who 
fought  under  his  command  and  those  of  the 
neighbouring  nations  would  have  placed  the 
crown  on  the  head  of  Titus :  but  he  refused 
that  honour,  alleging  that  he  was  a  mere  in- 
strument of  the  vengeance  of  a  terrible  God, 
on  that  impious  and  obdurate  nation. 

To  secure  his  conquests,  he  left  a  legion  at 
Jerusalem  ;  marched  to  Cassarea ;  and  sailed 
back  to  Rome :  he  entered  the  city  in  tri- 
umph ;  and  was  hailed  by  all  orders  with  en- 
thusiasm, as  the  conqueror  of  Judea.  By  his 
side  in  the  same  car,  sat  Vespasian,  his  father : 
while  immense  quantities  of  gold,  taken  from 
the  temple;  the  table  of  the  laws;  and  the  gold- 

(1)  Jos.vii.  7.     (2)Philost.vi.  14. 


182  HIStORY  OF  THE   CHURCH. 

en  candlestick  were  displayed  to  the  view  of  the 
people  :  and  a  great  multitude  of  captives,  with 
Simon  at  their  head,  closed  the  magnificent 
procession.   (1) 

After  the  destruction  of  Jerusalem,  the 
pharisees  and  saducees,  were  no  longer  heard 
of.  It  would  appear  as  though  they  had  been 
buried  amid  the  ruins  of  that  devoted  city. 
The  Nazareans  still  survived :  but  their  sys- 
tem was  so  compounded  of  the  Jewish  and 
Christian  religions,  that  it  was  difficult  to  de- 
termine whether  they  were  the  followers  of 
the  one  or  the  other. 

Their  errors  soon  dissolved  into  those  of 
Ebion ;  an  heresiarch  who  began  to  dogma- 

(1)  The  triumphal  arch  erected  to  Titus,  on  this  occasion, 
is  still  to  be  seen,  though  in  a  mutilated  condition,  at  Rome: 
on  it,  the  candlestick  and  table  are  represented  in  bas-relief. 
There  are  also  extant  medals  of  Titus  and  Vespasian,  on 
which  is  represented  a  matron  sitting  at  tlie  foot  of  a  palm 
tree,  covered  with  a  long  mantle,  with  her  head  reclining  on 
her  hand,  with  this  inscription:  Jud^a  Captiva:  Judea  in 
captivity. 

The  history  of  the  Jewish  war  was  written  in  Greek  by 
Josephus;  who  having  been  made  prisoner  and  set  at  liberty, 
assumed  the  name  of  Flavins,  which  was  the  family  name  of 
Vespasian.  He  was  eye  witness  to  all  that  he  relates:  and 
as  he  continued  a  Jew,  he  cannot  be  suspected  of  wishing  to 
shew  the  accomplishment  of   the  prophecies  of  Jesus  Christ. 

The  destruction  of  Jerusalem  is  mentioned  also  by  many 
pagan  writers:  especially  by  Tacitus,  Suetonius,  Plutarch, 
and  Dio. 


HISTORY    OF    THE  CHURCH.  183 

tize  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Pella,  whilst  the 
Christians  were  shut  up  in  that  town.  (1)  His 
disciples  affected  an  extreme  poverty:  and 
among  other  visionary  doctrines,  maintained 
that  Jesus  Christ  was  born  of  Joseph  an^  Ma- 
ry according  to  the  flesh :  that  he  was  not  the 
Son  of  God :  but  that  Christ  had  descended 
into  his  body  from  heaven,  in  the  form  of  a 
dove  :  that  God  then  gave  him  dominion  over 
the  world  to  come ;  abandoning  the  present 
to  Satan.  He  obliged  his  followers  to  marry, 
and  allowed  a  plurality  of  wives. 

The  reveries  of  Cerinthus  differed  but  little 
from  those  of  Ebion.  He  treated  the  human- 
ity of  Jesus  Christ  with  the  same  disrespect: 
and  specified  the  precise  time,  when  Christ 
had  descended  into  him  :  viz.  at  his  baptism; 
when  the  eternal  Father  armounced  him  to 
the  world,  as  is  related  in  the  gospel :  he  add- 
ed, that  when  the  time  of  the  passion  had  ar- 
rived, Christ  ascended  into  heaven,  leaving 
Jesus  behind  to  suffer  death. 

The  reader  may  here  descry  the  first  germ 
of  Nestorianism  :  according  to  which  system, 

(1)  That  Ebion  broached  his  doctrine  immediately  after 
the  destruction  of  Jerusc^lem,  Josephus  testifies. 


184  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

there  were  two   distinct    persons    in   Jesus 
Cln'ist :  and  lie  may  also  perceive  the  unshaken 
firmness,  with  which  the  contrary  helief  was 
maintained    in  the  infancy  of  the  church. — 
These  errors  of  Cerinthus  stand  in  direct  op- 
position to  the  doctrine  of  St.  Paul :  and  the 
decrees  of  the  apostolic  council  of  Jerusalem  ; 
in  which  the  great  teacher  of  the  gentiles,  as 
we  saw,  exerted  all  his  zeal  against  the  pre- 
tentions of  certain  Jews,  who,  whilst  they  af- 
fected an  extraordinary  attachment  for  Chris- 
tianity, laboured,  at  bottom,  to  annihilate   all 
the  virtue  of  the  cross  of  Jesus  Christ.    These 
pretended  Christians   were  likewise   the  first 
to    propagate  the  Millenarian  system    in   its 
gross  and  dangerous  acceptation.     They  be- 
lieved and  taught  that,  after  the  general  re- 
surrection, Christ  should  commence  his  ter- 
restrial reign  at  Jerusalem  :  that  during  the 
lapse  of  a  thousand  years,  they  should  be  free 
to  indulge,  without  remorse,  all  their  sensual 
appetites,   and    to  riot    in  carnal    pleasures. 
These  reveries,  as  long  as  St.  Paul  lived,  were 
contine(5  to  a  few  enthusiasts;  but  after  his  death 
they  were  widely  diffused,   and  publicly  de- 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  185 

fended.  Abont  this  period,  Menander,  a  na- 
tive of  Samaria,  and  a  disciple  of  Simon  Ma- 
gus, began  to  disseminate  the  errors  of  his 
master.  The  baptism  of  that  impostor  he 
asserted,  was  the  true  resurrection  ;  confer- 
ring immortaHty,  even  in  this  world,  on  all 
by  whom  it  was  received.  At  the  same  time, 
to  check  the  progress  of  this  heresy,  some 
zealous  doctors  formed  in  the  school  of  the 
apostles,  drew  up  a  number  of  constitutions., 
which  long  claimed  the  public  veneration  of 
the  church. 

The  book  entitled,  "Of  the  Pastor,"  written 
by  Hernias,  a  fervent  layman,  made  its  ap- 
pearance, in  all  probability,  about  this  period. 
The  style  of  this  work  is  plain,  but  full  of  unc- 
tion. It  is  divided  into  three  parts:  the  first  and 
third  comprize  a  number  of  revelations:  the  se- 
cond contains  an  abridgment  of  the  principal 
rules  of  Christian  morality.  It  was  the  opinion 
of  Origen,  S.  Jerome,  and  others,  that  S.  Paul 
alludes  to  Hermas  in  his  first  epistle  to  tiie 
Romans,  chap.  16.  St.  Clement,  was  now 
sitting  on  the  pontifical  chair  :     He  had  sue- 


186  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH, 

ceeded  >St.  CIctus,  (1)  successor  of  St.  Linus, 
about  ^ia^-two  years  after  the  death  of  St. 
Peter  :  and  in  the  year  of  Christ  ninety-three. 
Under  this  pontiff  a  dangerous  cabal  was 
formed  at  Corinth  :  some  priests  having  been 
deposed  by  the  laity,  appealed  to  the  Ro- 
man church,  "  the  mother  and  mistress  of 
all  others."  In  reply  to  the  appellants,  Cle- 
ment wrote  an  epistle  directed  to  the  Corin- 
thians :  the  bearers  of  which  were  some  of 
the  distinguished  members  of  the  Roman 
church.  This  letter  was  of  so  conciliating  a 
nature,  that  it  not  only  put  an  end  to  the  di- 
visions, but  was  held  in  such  high  veneration, 
that  it  was  publicly  read  in  the  churches  of 
Corinth,  for  more  than  two  centuries  after. 
(2)  It  will  perhaps  not  be  useless  to  observe, 

(1)  By  some  writers  it  is  believed,  that  St.  Clement  suc- 
ceeded not  Cletus  but  Linus  :  and  they  maintain  their  opinion 
on  the  authority  of  S  Optatus  Milevitanus,  lib.  2,  and  of  S. 
Augustine,  ep.  162.  By  the  ancient  monuments  of  tlie  Ro- 
jaian  church,  Clement  is  made  the  fourth  in  order.  The  for- 
mer opinion  may  have  originated  in  the  similitude  of  names, 
and  confounded  Cletus  with  Anacletus.  Some  heretics  have 
asserted  that  Cletus  and  Linus  sat  together.  The  assertion 
is  false  ;  repugnant  alike  to  tradition,  the  ancient  catalogues, 
and  the  unity  of  the  apostolic  see.  The  following  is  the  or- 
der of  Pagi:  Peter,  Linus,  Clement,  Cletus,  Anacletus,  Eva- 
ristus.  I  have  followed  that  of  Baronius. 

(2)  Eusebius  testifies  that  even  as  late  as  his  own  times, 
the  epistle  of  S.  Clement  was  publicly  read  in  many  churches 
Eus.  3  hist.  lib.  4.  C.  22. 


HISTORY  OP  THE   CHURCH.  187 

that  although  we  do  not  find  hi  this  epistle, 
the  elevation,  and  divine  sublimity  of  the  in- 
spired writings,  it  is  nevertheless  remarkable 
for  a  singular  perspicuity,  purity,  and  elegance 
of  style  :  the  reasoning  is  cogent  and  convinc- 
ing. To  inspire  the  faithful  of  Corinth,  with 
a  horror  for  the  divisions,  occasioned  by  a 
few  interested  individuals,  "  it  is,  he  says,  a 
shame,  my  dear  brethren  :  it  is  unworthy  the 
disciples  of  the  gospel,  that  the  scandals  of 
your  church,  the  ancient  and  respectable 
church  of  Corinth,  should  be  heard  of,  not 
only  by  us,  but  by  those  who  make  of  them  a 
subject  of  malicious  triumph  against  the  truth: 
by  your  inconsiderate  respect  for  a  few  rash 
and  seditious  men,  the  name  of  the  Lord  is 
blasphemed  among  the  gentiles."  After  re- 
minding them  of  their  primitive  virtues,  and 
their  faith  which  hitherto  had  continued  un- 
changed, "  we  should,  he  observes,  perform 
with  regularity,  whatever  the  Lord  has  com- 
manded us  to  do  :  he  has  specified  the  time 
and  manner  of  our  obligations  :  he  has  him- 
self determined  when,  and  by  whom  they 
should  be  offered.     In  the  Mosaic  law,   there 


188  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

were  functions  peculiar  to  the  sovereign  pon- 
tiff: the  sacrificcrs  had  a  special  ministry  to 
fulfil ;  the  Levites  too  were  charged  with 
particular  duties.  The  people  were  also 
bound  to  the  observance  of  certain  precepts, 
suitable  to  their  condition.  Each  one  of  you, 
my  dear  brethren,  should  humbly  keep  him- 
self in  his  proper  place  :  without  transgres- 
sing the  limits  marked  out  for  him.  The 
Father  has  sent  Jesus  Christ,  and  Jesus  Christ 
has  sent  the  apostles,  who  according  to  his 
order,  have  announced  the  gospel  in  pro- 
vinces and  cities ;  and  have  established 
bishops  and  deacons  to  direct  and  govern 
such  as  were  converted.  By  the  light  of  the 
Holy  Spirit,  they  foresaw  that  there  would  be 
contentions  about  the  dignity  of  bishops,  and 
therefore  after  the  institution  of  the  first 
pastors,  they  decreed,  that,  those  pastors 
should  be  succeeded  in  the  ministry,  by  men 
of  approved  virtue.  Such  as  were  thus  ap- 
pointed by  the  apostles,  or  by  their  successors 
with  the  approbation  of  the  church,  and  who 
have  governed  the  floCk  of  Jesus  Christ  with- 
out reproach,  cannot  iviihout  injustice  be  de- 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  189 

posed  from  the  ministry."  Snch  is  the  doc- 
trine contained  in  the  letter  of  St.  Clement 
to  the  Corinthians  :  had  its  counsels  been  at- 
tended to  in  succeeding  ages  ;  had  bishops 
been  suffered  to  govern  their  flocks  undis- 
turbed by  the  irregular  interference  of  lay- 
men, history  would  not  have  to  lament  the 
schisms  which  have  divided  so  many  of  the 
fairest  portions  of  the  church. 

By  some  judicious  modern  critics,  it  is  be- 
lieved that  Clement  is  the  author  of  a  second 
epistle,  of  wliich  considerable  fragments  are 
still  extant :  by  others  equally  judicious  it  is 
rejected.  But  the  itinerary  of  St.  Peter,  is  by 
all  admitted  to  be  suppositious.  As  for  the 
apostolic  constitutions  which  were  made  up 
of  collections  of  the  various  regulations  of 
church  discipline,  as  established  in  several 
councils  of  the  second  and  third  centuries, 
they  are  considered  apocryphal.   (1) 


(1)  This  epistle  is  exploded,  as  not  genuine,  by  Eusehius, 
3.  hist.  32.  S.  Jerome,  de  scrip.  Ecc.  in  Clem,  and  Pliotius  in 
biblioth.  It  is  remarkable  that  S.  Jerome  cites  a  passage 
from  one  of  the  epistles  of  S.  Clement,  in  which  he  speaks 
de  mundis  trans  oceamim  positis  :  of  worlds  lying  beyond  the 
ocean.     Hier.  in  Eph.  2.     See  Baron,  ad  ann.  95. 


190  HISTORY  OP  THE  CHURCH. 

St.  Clement  in  his  letter  to  the  Corinthian!!^, 
bears  formal  testimony  to  the  martyrdom  ol* 
S.  Peter  and  S.  Panl:  and  informs  them,  that 
these  holy  apostles  were  piit  to  death  through 
the  intrigue  of  false  brethren,  by  whom  they 
had  often  been  persecuted  during  life. 

Clement  occupied  the  pontifical  chair  nine 
years  :  that  is,  from  the  year  ninety-three  to 
the  end  of  the  first  century.  From  what 
source  a  circumstantial  account  of  his  exile 
and  martyrdom  have  been  derived,  remains  a 
subject  of  conjecture. 

The  emperor  Vespasian  died  in  the  eighty- 
first  year  of  the  Christian  era.  He  is  not 
numbered  on  the  catalogue  of  the  persecutors 
of  the  church :  during  his  reign,  however,  a 
great  number  of  Christians  were  put  to 
death.  They  were  confounded  with  the  Jews: 
and  treated  with  the  same  contempt  and 
cruelty,  which  that  unfortunate  people  ex- 
perienced. He  was  succeeded  by  his  son 
Titus,  whose  humane  disposition,  has  been 
celebrated,  even  by  Christian  writers.  Re- 
ilecting  one  night,  that  he  had  not  granted 
any  favor,  or  contributed  in  a  direct  manner 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  191 

io  the  happiness  of  any  subject,  my  friends,  he 
sighed,  I  have  lost  a  day.  He  continued  but 
two  years  on  the  throne  ;  and  was  succeeded 
by  his  brother  Domitian. 

Domitian  was  a  second  Nero.  He  rivalled 
that  monster  in  his  immoralities,  cruelty,  and 
hatred  for  the  Christians.  He  had  not  worn 
the  crown  two  years,  before  he  issued  against 
them  a  sanguinary  edict.  Flavins  Clemens, 
his  cousin  german,  who  had  been  converted 
to  Christianity,  with  all  his  household,  was 
put  to  death,  by  his  express  command.  Fla- 
via  Domitilla,  the  consul's  wife,  and  who  was 
also  related  to  the  emperor,  was  condemned 
to  exile.  Another  Ffcivia  Domitilla,  niece  to 
Clemens,  shared  the  same  fate,  though  ban- 
ished to  a  different  region.  Achilleus  and 
Nereus,  two  of  her  eunuchs,  accompanied  her 
in  her  exile :  and  were  both  beheaded  for 
their  attachment  to  the  Christian  faith, 

St<  John,  the  beloved  disciple  of  Jesus  Christ, 
and  the  only  survivor  of  those  who  had  seen, 
and    conversed  with  tlie  Redeemer,  was  ar- 
raigned before  this  tyrant.     He  had  returuecT 
to  Ephesus,  almost  worn  out  by  his  labours  in 


192  HISTORY  or  the  cuurcii. 

prcacliiiig  the  gospel  through  Upper  Asia. 
The  tyrant,  without  any  regard  to  his  vene- 
rable age,  condemned  him,  as  Tertullian  re- 
lates, to  be  plunged  into  a  caldron  of  boiling 
oil,  near  the  Latin  gate:  but  the  apostle  emerg- 
ed from  it  without  receiving  any  injury.  (1) 
The  relentless  Domitian,  banished  him  to  the 
Isle  of  Patmos,  in  the  Archipelago.  In  this 
desolate  abode,  he  was  favoured  with  the 
mysterious  revelations,  contained  in  the  apo- 
calypse ;  and  which  he  addressed  to  the  seven 
churches  of  Asia,  which  had  been  in  a  special 
manner  committed  to  his  care,  viz:  the  church- 
es of  Ephesus,  Smyrna,  Pergamus,  Thyatira, 
Sardis,  Philadelphia,  and  Laodicea.  He  ad- 
dresses himself  in  a  prophetic  manner,  to  the 
angels  of  these  several  churches  ;  that  is  to 
their  bishops  :  but  his  reproaches  were  direct- 

(1)  Of  this  miracle,  Tertullian  de  praescrip.  C.  36;  Eusebi- 
Hs  3",  S.  Jerome  in  Jovin  lib.  1  et  in  Matt.  20,  bear  witness. 
The  church  has  instituted  a  festival  in  remembrance  of  the 
fact;  that  it  occurred  under  Domitian,  all  writers,  as  well 
Greek  as  Latin,  excepting  only  S.  Epiphanius,  assure  us. 
This  father  I  know  not  on  what  grounds,  says  that  he  was 
banished  to  Patmos,  (and  consequently  since  his  banishment 
Avas  posterior  to  his  being  plunged  into  the  caldron  of  oil,  that 
he  was  condemned  to  that  punishment,)  under  Claudius.  (Hier 
51)  Victorinus  Pictaviensis  and  Primasiiis  affirm  that  he 
was  banished  to  Patmos  to  work  in  the  mines.  See  Spon- 
dan.  ad  ann.  92  I.  and  II. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  193 

eel  rather  to  the  flock  in  general,  than  to  the 
pastors  themselves.  Carried  off  by  a  divine  en- 
thusiasm, and  full  of  the  inspiration  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  he  soars  witli  the  flight  of  an  eagle  to 
heaven,  and  is  lost  in  mystery,  and  signs,  and 
prophetic  emblems,  which  relate  to  the  de- 
struction of  idolatry  and  the  world ;  and  the 
glory  of  the  saints. 

It  is  in  vain  to  attempt  to  explain  the  book 
of  revelations :  if  we  except  the  prophecies 
relating  to  the  first  persecutions,  the  apoca- 
lypse has  been,  and  will  continue  to  be,  a  seal- 
ed book :  all  that  we  can  with  certainty  learn 
from  it  is,  that  Christ  shall  defeat  all  his 
adversaries  :  that  there  will  be  confusion  and 
withering  away  in  the  last  days ;  that  the 
whole  world  shall  be  consumed  by  fire  ;  and 
that  after  all  these  calamities,  the  general 
judgment  will  take  place  :  and  the  church, 
represented  under  the  name  of  Jerusalem, 
shall  triumph  over  her  enemies,  and  flourish 
for  all  eternity. 

Domitian  died  in  the  year  ninety-eight, 
and  was  succeeded  by  Nerva.  At  his  ac- 
cession, a  general  amnesty  was  proclaimed, 

VOL.   I. — 13 


194  iiisTOKV  or  THE  church. 

and  St.  John  returned  to  Epiiesus.  Ti- 
niotliy,  who  liad  been  bishop  of  that  church, 
had  fallen  a  victim  to  his  zeal  in  reproving  the 
vices  of  the  idolaters.  St.  John  was  now 
ninety  years  old ;  and  regardless  of  his  ex- 
treme age,  he  not  only  undertook  the  govern- 
ment of  the  church  of  Ephesus,  but  visited 
the  neighbouring  provinces  ;  and  consecrated 
with  his  own  hands,  his  disciple  Polycarp, 
bishop  of  Smyrna. 

In  one  of  those  excursions,  he  met  with  a 
young  man,  whose  appearance  and  deport- 
ment indicated  that  he  was  of  no  ordinary 
cast.  Conceiving  a  peculiar  attachment  to 
the  youth,  St.  John  committed  him  to  the 
care  of  the  bishop  of  the  place  to  be  instruct- 
ed and  baptized.  The  bishop  neglected  his 
trust :  the  season  for  administering  the  sacra- 
ment arrived :  but  the  young  Neophyte  did 
not  appear :  carried  away  by  wicked  com- 
pany, he  not  only  forgot  the  precepts  of  Chris- 
tianity, but  became  a  robber  on  the  highways. 
The  apostle,  on  returning,  demanded  of  the 
bishop,  the  youth  whom  he  had  intrusted  to 
his  care.     Alas!    replied  the    bishop,   he  is 


HISTORY    OP    THE    CHURCH.  195 

dead :  dead  to  God  and  to  religion :  he  has 
left  me :  forsaken  Christianity,  and  joined 
a  band  of  robbers  on  the  mountains.  The 
venerable  apostle  was  overwhelmed  with  grief. 
Forgetting  his  feebleness  and  age,  he  called 
for  a  horse,  and  hastened  away  in  pursuit  of 
the  unfortunate  young  man  ;  with  sighs  and 
tears  he  sought  him  amidst  the  mountains 
and  woods,  and,  at  length,  discovered  the  lost 
sheep.  The  young  robber,  recognised  his 
benefactor,  and  covered  with  confusion,  began 
to  fly;  but  the  apostle  pursued  him,  exclaiming: 
my  son,  why  do  you  fly  from  me  ?  I  am  ready 
to  sacrifice  my  life  for  yours  :  return  to  your 
father :  or  rather  return  to  Jesus  Christ. 
It  is  he  who  stretches  out  his  arms  to  receive 
you,  he  addresses  you  by  my  mouth.  The 
young  man  melted  into  tears,  stopped,  and 
embraced  his  tender  father :  but  his  right 
hand,  which  had  been  the  instrument  of  so 
many  crimes,  he  concealed  :  S.  John  seized 
and  kissed  it :  and  having  earnestly  prayed 
for  him,  brought  him  back  to  the  church. 
The  young  man  lived  and  died  a  penitent. 


196  HISTORY  OP  THE  CHURCH. 

After  his  return  from  exile,  S.  John  wrote 
his  gospel,  at  the  sohcitation  of  the  Asiatic 
churches.  (1)  llis  principal  ohject  was  to  es- 
tahlish  the  divinity  of  Jesus  Christ :  and  then 
to  refute  the  errors  of  Ebion,  and  the  Nicho- 
laites.  Of  all  the  gospels,  this  is  the  most  sub- 
hme  :  it  diffuses  throughout  the  ardours  of 
that  sacred  charity,  which  was  kindled  in 
the  heart  of  the  evangelist,  when  he  reposed 
on  the  bosom  of  his  God.  The  same  spirit 
pervades  his  epistles  :  in  them  he  insists  on 
charity,  as  the  great  law  and  characteristic  fea- 
ture of  Christianity,  without  which,  the  mere 
profession  of  religion  would  be  vain. 

Of  his  epistles,  the  first  was  written  to  the 
Parthians :  the  other  two  were  addressed  to 
his  particular  friends.  Gains  and  Electa.  To- 
wards the  end  of  his  life,  he  was  extremely 
feeble  ;  unable  to  walk,  he  was  carried  on  a 


(1)  That  S.  John  wrote  his  gospel  at  Ephesus,  after  his  re- 
turn to  Patmos,  S.  Athanasius  assures  us.  Ath.  in  Synop.  S. 
Epiphanius affirms  the  same:  Haer.  51.  as  also  S.  Irenseus. 
lib.  3.  cap.  1.  et  ap.  Euseb.  5.  hist.  8.  By  others  it  is  said 
that  he  wrote  it  in  the  island  of  Patmos,  but  that  it  was  pub- 
lished at  Ephesus.  Metaphr.  ap.  Lipo  torn.  1 .  Doroth.  in 
Synops.  That  his  object  in  writing  his  gospel  was  to  refute 
and  confound  the  enemies  of  Christ's  divinity,  we  learn  from 
S.  Irenaeus,  de  Scrip.  Eccl.  in  Joan.  S.  Epiphanius,  Hair.  51 
and  others. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  197 

litter  to  the  assemblies  of  the  faithful ;  whom 
he  exhorted  to  love  one  another:  (1)  "my  little 
children,  he  would  say,  love  one  another :"  his 
auditors,  tired  of  hearing  continually  the  same 
thing,  asked  why  he  repeated  those  words  so 
often  ?  Because,  he  replied,  charity  is  the 
precept  of  the  Lord  :  with  which,  if  you  com- 
ply, you  fulfil  the  law.  He  died  in  the  hun- 
dredth year  of  his  age :  and  was  buried  at 
Ephesus  :  (2)  several  miracles  were  wrought 
at  his  tomb.  With  the  name  of  St.  John, 
the  Greeks  have  associated  the  epithet  of  "The 
Divine  :"  on  account  of  the  majestic  dignity 
with  which  he  expresses  himself  concerning 
the  incarnate  word.  We  are  informed,  that 
he  was  accustomed  to  wear  a  plate  of  gold, 
upon  his  forehead.  A  similar  plate  was  worn 
by  St.  James,  bishop  of  Jerusalem  ;  and  proba- 
bly by  all  the  first  pontiffs,  after  the  example 
of  the  high  priest  of  the  ancient  law.     With 


(1)  Hieronym.  de  scrip.  Sacra. 

(2)  Hier.  de  Scrip.  Eccl.  in  Joan.  Polycrates  ap.  Euseb.  1 
Hist.  25.  TertuU.  de  anima.  cap.  50.  There  were  not  want- 
ing some  to  imagine  that  S.  John  did  not  die  :  but  was  taken 
away  with  Enoch  and  Elias  :  but  Eusebius  and  S.  Chrysos- 
tom  completely  refute  this  opinion  when  they  assert  that  his 
tomb  was  to  be  seen  in  their  times. 


198  HISTORY  OP  THE  CHURCH. 

St.  John,  the  apostoHc  times  conchidc  :  all  the 
other  apostles  having  died  before  him. 

The  blessed  virgin,  who  had  been  entrust- 
ed by  Christ  to  his  peculiar  care,  had  quitted 
this  world  many  years  before  him :  but  the 
precise  time,  and  other  circumstances  of  her 
death  are  unknown:  her  assumption  into  hea- 
ven, a  few  days  after  her  decease,  was  univer- 
sally believed,  in  the  first  age  of  the  church. 
St.  Epiphanius  clearly  professes  this  belief: 
and  it  has  been  embraced  alike  by  all  the 
Greek  and  Latin  fathers.  A  solemn  festival 
was  instituted  in  commemoration  of  it,  and 
celebrated  through  all  the  East :  that  festival 
is  still  solemnized  by  the  whole  church,  on  the 
fifteenth  of  August.   (1) 

(1)  Concerning  the  "transit"  of  the  blessed  virgin,  much 
has  been  written:  of  the  opinions  of  various  authors,  some 
have  been  rejected  by  tlie  Catholic  church,  as  erroneous; 
others  as  apochryphal  and  visionary;  and  others,  in  fine,  have 
been  admitted.  The  church  rejects  especially  the  reveries 
of  the  Collyridiani  and  Antidicomarianitae:  of  which,  the 
former  maintained  that  the  blessed  virgin  was  not  human, 
but  divine;  and  therefore  exempt  from  death:  the  latter  that 
like  Enoch  and  Elias,  she  was  translated,  without  dying,  from 
earth  to  heaven.  That  she  was  subject  to  the  common  lot  of 
all  human  kind,  and  died,  was  never  doubted;  that  she  was 
taken  up  into  heaven  with  her  body  and  soul  after  her  death, 
was  universally  admitted  by  the  church.  This  translation 
the  Greeks  called,  "a  sleep:"  the  Latins  "assumptio," 
as  appears   from   the  most  ancient  martyrologies,  the  sa- 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  190 

There  w,as  still  remaining  on  earth  a  rela- 
tive of  the  Saviour  :  this  was  Simeon,  bishop 
of  Jerusalem.  He  was  the  last  of  the  disci- 
ples, who  had  conversed  with  the  icord  made 
flesh  ;  and  learned  from  him  personally,  the 
evangelical  doctrine.  He  was  of  eminent 
service  to  the  church  ;  on  account  of  the  au- 
thority which  he  possessed;  and  the  zeal  which 
he  exercised  for  the  purity  of  faith,  and  rigour 
of  discipline.  But  it  was  not  long  before  he 
fell  a  victim  to  the  persecution. 

Nerva  died  after  a  reign  of  sixteen  months : 
and  was  succeeded  by  his  adopted  son  Trajan, 
on  the  twenty-seventh  of  January,  in  the  year 
of  Christ  one  hundred.  This  prince,  not- 
withstanding his  many  good  qualities,  was  the 
author  of  the  third  general  persecution.  His 
attachment  to  the   laws  and   superstitions  of 


cramentary  of  S.  Gregory,  and  other  ancient  missals  and 
rituals.  That  this  festival  was  celebrated  in  the  primi- 
tive ages,  is  plain  from  an  epistle  of  pope  Nicholas  to  the 
Bulgarians;  in  which,  enumerating  the  fasts  observed  in  the 
Latin  church,  he  mentions  the  fast  before  the  solemnity  of 
the  assumption  of  the  blessed  virgin  Mary.  There  is,  besides, 
extant,  a  sermon,  attributed  to  S.  Athanasius,  in  which  the 
assumption  is  extolled  in  the  highest  strains.  That  the  festi- 
val was  admitted  into  Gaul  in  the  time  of  Charlemagne,  we 
learn  from  his  celebrated  Capitulary  1.  1  c.  163.  It  was  call- 
ed by  excellence  Dies  DoMiNae.     Cartuit.  vit.  S.  Steph.  Reg. 


200  HISTORY    OF    THE    CHURCH. 

Rome,  and  the  marked  aversion  which  he 
testified  for  such  as  refused  to  conform  to 
them,  encouraged  the  idolatrous  magistrates, 
unauthorized  by  any  formal  decree,  to  perse- 
cute the  Christians. 

The  faithful  having  returned  from  Pella  to 
Jerusalem,  were  permitted,  under  the  direc- 
tion of  8.  Simeon,  to  establish  themselves 
again  amid  its  ruins.  Jealous  of  the  privi- 
leges which  they  enjoyed,  the  Ebionites  and 
Nazareans  soon  found  means  to  introduce 
themselves  among  them. 

The  Nazareans  were  originally  circumcised 
Christians :  but  in  consequence  of  their  ob- 
stinate attachment  to  the  observances  of  the 
old  law,  to  which  they  wished  to  oblige  even 
the  gentiles  themselves,  they  were  separated 
from  the  church  in  the  reign  of  Domitian. 
So  great  was  their  animosity  against  the  fol- 
lowers of  the  new  law,  that  they  caused  many 
to  be  apprehended  and  condemned  to  death. 
Among  the  victims  of  these  fanatics  was  the 
venerable  Simeon.  He  was  denounced  under 
the  two-fold  character  of  a  Christian,  and 
cousin-german  to  Jesus  Christ.     He  was  in 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CHURCH.  201 

his  hundred  and  twentieth  year  :  but  his  ex- 
treme age  excited  no  pity  in  the  ferocious 
governor :  he  was  treated  with  the  utmost 
cruehy,  during  many  days  in  succession.  The 
object  of  his  executioner  was  to  induce  him 
by  dint  of  torture,  to  sacrifice  to  the  pagan 
gods  :  but  Simeon  not  only  continued  reso- 
lute, but  cheerful,  in  the  most  excruciating- 
pain.  Despairing  of  ever  shaking  his  reso- 
lution, the  governor  condemned  him  to  be 
crucified.  Thus  did  the  last  eye  witness  of 
the  Redeemer  undergo  a  death  similar  to  that 
of  his  Divine  Master.  (1)  His  successor  in  the 
see  of  Jerusalem,  was  of  Jewish  extraction  : 
his  name  was  Justus. 

A  certain  Thebulis  had  aspired  to  that  dig- 
nity, and  when  he  saw  the  preference  given 
to  Justus,  his  disappointment  and  chagrin, 
prompted  him  to  abandon  the  church.  Many 
other  heretics  appeared  at  the  same  epoch  : 
to  enter  into  a  detail  of  all  their  visionary 
tenets,  would  be  both  useless  and  tedious : 
I  may,     perhaps,    however,    be    allowed    to 


(1)  Euseb.  in  chron.  Idem.  4  hist.  1. 


202  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

give  a  few  particulars  of  the  sect  called  Osse- 
niatis. 

These  heretics  spread  through  Arabia,  to 
the  confines  of  Palestine.  The  person  who 
reduced  their  reveries  into  a  system  was  a 
Jew,  by  name  Elxai.  This  man  affected  to 
have  a  more  perfect  knowledge,  than  any 
other  mortal,  of  Jesus  Christ :  he  drew  a  mon- 
strous picture,  in  which  he  measured  the  ex- 
tent of  Christ's  virtues,  by  the  vast  dimensions 
and  strength  of  body,  which  he  assigned  to 
him.  The  moral  conduct  of  this  heretic  was, 
in  every  respect,  accordant  with  the  principles 
of  his  doctrine  :  he  was  the  avowed  enemy 
of  virginity  and  continence :  and  the  apolo- 
gist of  fraud  and  dissimulation;  he  held  him- 
self free  to  profess,  exteriorly,  whatever  re- 
ligion he  thought  proper :  to  offer  incense 
even  to  idols,  provided  his  heart  took  no  share 
in  the  prevarication.  (1)  The  disciples  of 
Elxai  united  with  the  Ebionites,  and  Nicho- 
laites. 


(1)  Epiph.  hier.  19  et  53.  Philast.  de  hier.  82.     Euseb.  6. 
hist  31. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  203 

All  these  sects  soon  amalgamated  into  one: 
and  became  better  known  under  the  general 
denomination  of  Gnostics;  which  signifies  men 
versed  in  the  things  of  God.  Their  impious 
maxims  were  of  infinite  prejudice  to  the  true 
religion :  as  they  all  bore  the  name  of  Chris- 
tian, they  were  frequently  confounded  by  the 
idolaters  with  the  true  children  of  the  church: 
so  that  the  most  enlightened  and  liberal 
among  the  pagans  could  scarcely  rise  superior 
to  the  vulgar  prejudices,  unjustly  conceived 
against  Christianity,  on  account  of  the  horri- 
ble dogmas  of  the  Gnostics. 

Pliny,  the  younger,  found  a  great  number 
of  the  faithful  in  Bithynia,  when  appointed  to 
the  administration  of  that  province:  he  scrutin- 
ized their  conduct,  and  watched  their  proceed- 
ings with  a  censorious  eye.  The  result  of  his 
observation  is  contained  in  his  letter  to  Trajan: 
"  he  found  them  guilty,  he  says,  of  no  other 
crime  than  of  assembling  at  certain  hours,  to 
sing  the  praises  of  Christ,  and  to  bind  them- 
selves never  to  be  guilty  of  theft,  adultery,  or 
perjury."     To  this  epistle,   the  emperor  re- 


204  HISTORY  OP  THE  CHURCH, 

turned  a  most  inconsistent  and  cruel  answer : 
"If,  said  he,  the  Christians  are  brought  before 
you,  and  refuse  to  offer  incense  to  the  gods, 
let  them  suffer  death :  otherwise  let  them 
live  unmolested."  Of  this  inconsistency,  Ter- 
tullian,  in  his  apology,  did  not  fail  to  take  ad- 
vantage. (1)  If  the  Christians  are  guilty,  this 
is  his  reasoning,  why  should  they  be  permit- 
ted to  live  unmolested  :  but  if  innocent,  why 
make  them  suffer  death  ? 

Ignatius,  bishop  of  Antioch,  suffered  mar- 
tyrdom, during  the  reign  of  Trajan  :  (2)  he 
was  the  successor  of  Evodius,  who  had  been 
appointed  to  the  see  of  Antioch,  by  the  prince 
of  the  apostles.  During  forty  years,  he  had 
been  the  edification  of  his  flock :  his  extraor- 
dinary solicitude  and  zeal  had  preserved  the 
purity  of  their  faith,  during  the  persecution 
of  Domitian.  The  merit  of  Ignatius  dif- 
fused itself  from  the  bosom  of  his  own  church 
over  all  the  East :  and  his  authority  defended 


(1)  Tert.  apol. 

(2)  Euseb.  in  chron.  et  3  hist.  30.  Hieron.  de  script.  Ec- 
cles.  in  Ignat  Methaphr.  ap.  Sur.  1  feb.  Ado.  in  martyr. 
1.  Feb. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  205 

the  Christian  societies,  in  those  quarters, 
against  the  seductions  of  false  brethren.  Not- 
withstanding his  great  virtues,  he  had  the 
most  humble  opinion  of  his  own  merit,  and 
deemed  himself  unworthy  of  martyrdom, 
though  it  had  been  the  object  of  his  most  fer- 
vent prayers,  during  two  successive  persecu- 
tions. 

Trajan,  in  the  eighth  year  of  his  reign, 
made  an  expedition  into  the  East,  against  the 
Parthians :  as  his  devotion  to  the  gods  was 
well  known,  particularly  at  a  juncture  when 
he  believed  their  i^rotection  necessary,  Igna- 
tius trembled  for  the  church.  When  the  em- 
peror arrived  at  Antioch,  the  "  good  shep- 
herd" took  the  generous  resolution  to  lay  down 
his  life  for  his  flock ;  hoping  that  a  prince,  so 
renowned  for  his  clemency  and  humanity, 
would  consider  the  death  of  their  pastor  a 
sufficient  expiation  for  the  aversion  which  the 
Christians  evinced  towards  the  gods  of  pagan- 
ism. He,  therefore,  took  no  measures  to  con- 
ceal himself:  and  was  soon  brought  before 
the  emperor. 


206  HISTORY  OP  THE  CHURCH. 

As  soon  as  he  appeared,  "  Wretch,  cried 
Trajan,  is  it  you,  who,  hke  an  evil  demon,  se- 
duce the  citizens,  and  excite  them  to  vio- 
late my  orders?"  "  The  name  of  demon,  Igna- 
tius cahnly  rephed,  has  never,  until  now,  been 
given  to  Theophorus ;  whose  presence  puts 
tlie  demons  to  flight.  If  you  call  me  a  wicked 
demon  because  I  am  insupportable  to  demons, 
I  will  glory  in  the  name.  By  the  virtue  of 
Jesus  Christ,  whom  I  carry  in  my  heart,  while 
he  is  at  the  same  time,  enthroned  in  the  high- 
est heaven,  we  dissipate  the  illusions  of  hell." 
And  who  is  this  Theophorus,  resumed  the 
emperor  ?  "  It  is  he,  replied  Ignatius,  to 
whom  that  title  has  so  often  been  given :  a 
title  so  conformable  to  the  fervour  of  faith  and 
charity,  which  he  professes :  it  is  he,  who  car- 
ries in  his  heart,  Jesus  Christ,  the  true  Son  of 
God."  You  persuade  yourselves,  then,  said 
Trajan,  that  we  do  not  feel  in  our  souls  the 
impressions  of  those  great  divinities,  who  ren- 
der us  victorious  over  all  our  enemies.  It  is 
a  pernicious  error,  rejoined  the  saint,  to  mis- 
take for  gods,  those  evil  spirits,  whom  the 
Greeks  have  deified.     There  is  but  one  God  : 


y 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  207 

who  created  the  heavens  and  the  earth  :  and 
whose  only  Son  is  Jesus  Christ.  What!  ex- 
claimed Trajan,  do  you  mean  him,  whom  Pi- 
late crucified,  at  Jerusalem  ?  The  very  same, 
answered  Ignatius :  but  by  his  crucifixion,  he 
overcame  sin,  and  the  devil  the  author  of  sin. 
Trajan  then  pronounced  the  following  sen- 
tence. It  is  our  will,  that  Ignatius,  who  says 
he  carries  the  crucified  man  in  his  heart,  be  put 
in  irons  and  conveyed  to  Rome,  to  be  devoured 
by  wild  beasts,  for  the  amusement  of  the  people. 
On  hearing  the  sentence,  Ignatius  said :  I 
give  thee  thanks,  God  of  love,  for  granting  me 
the  privilege  of  suffering  for  thy  name,  like 
thy  holy  apostles.  He  then  offered  up  a  short 
prayer  for  the  church ;  and  presented  his 
hands  to  be  fettered  by  the  guards. 

He  was  compelled  to  set  out  for  Rome 
without  delay.  During  the  voyage  he  was 
treated  with  extreme  cruelty. 

At  Smyrna,  he  had  the  consolation  to  meet 
St.  Polycarp  bishop,  who  had  also  been  a  dis- 
ciple of  St.  John.  Of  the  epistles  which  he 
wrote  during  his  voyage,  seven  are  still  extant: 


208  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHUUCH. 

and  are  among  the   most  precious  fragments 
of  sacred  antiquity.  (1) 

On  tlie  arrival  of  the  venerable  bishop  at 
Rome,  the  faithful  went  out  in  crowds  to  meet 
him.  When  they  heard  of  his  impending 
fate,  they  wept  bitterly,  and  earnestly  intreat- 
ed  him  to  allow  them  to  petition  the  emperor  for 
a  reprieve.  But  the  saint  with  a  holy  severi- 
ty reproved  their  mistaken  affection,  and  con- 
jured them  not  to  wrest  from  him  that  great- 
est of  all  favours,  for  which  he  had  sighed  so 
long.   (2)    Approaching  the  amphitheatre,  he 

(1 )  Some  errors  had  crept  into  these  epistles,  through  the 
neglect  of  copyists:  but  they  were  restored  to  their  original 
purity  by  two  celebrated  protestant  divines,  Daille  a  Cal- 
vinistic  minister  of  Charenton  and  doctor  Pearson,  the  learn- 
ed bishop  of  Chester.  The  original  text  discovered  by  Vos- 
sius,  in  the  library  of  Florence,  was  found  to  be  perfectly 
conformable  to  the  British  versions. 

(2)  The  following  is  an  extract  from  the  letter  addressed 
to  the  faithful,  on  this  occasion: 

"  I  dread  your  charity:  and  fear  lest  your  compassion  in 
my  regard,  be  too  tender.  It  may  perhaps,  not  be  difficult 
for  you  to  prevent  my  death  ;  but  in  opposing  my  death,  you 
oppose  my  happiness.  If  you  have  a  sincere  charity  for  me, 
you  will  let  me  go  and  enjoy  my  God.  Never  shall  /  have  a 
more  favourable  occasion,  than  that  which  is  now  presented, 
of  uniting  myself  to  him  :  nor  you  of  performing  a  good 
work:  to  perform  that  good  work,  you  need  only  remain 
quiet.  If  you  make  no  exertion  to  rescue  me  from  the  hands 
of  the  executioner,  I  will  soon  be  united  to  my  God.  But  if 
you  suffer  yourselves  to  be  actuated  by  a  false  compassion 
for  this  miserable  flesh,  you  \\'\\\  force  me  to  return  to  my 
former  career  of  labour  and  cares.     Suffer  me  to  be  immolated 


HISTORY  OP  THE  CHURCH.  209 

heard  with  firmness  and  composure,  the  roar 
of  the  impatient  beasts.  His  sufferings  were 
soon  over  :  the  hons  devoured  him  in  a  mo- 
ment, and  no  rehes,  except  a  few  of  his  larger 
bones,  were  saved.  His  martyrdom  ♦?"'' 
place  in  the  year  one  hundred  and  ten,  on  the 
twentieth  of  December.  "  We  have  been 
ourselves  spectators  of  that  heroic  deatli,  say 
the  witnesses  of  the  acts  of  his  martyrdom, 


now  that  the  altar  is  prepared :  unite  with  me  in  the  sacrifice, 
singing  canticles  to  the  Father,  and  Jesus  Christ  his  Son, 
while  I  am  offering  it.  You  have  never  borne  envy  against 
any  one:  could  you  now  envy  my  felicity:  rather  obtain  for 
me  by  your  prayers,  the  courage  necessary  to  resist  the  as- 
saults of  within,  and  to  repel  those  of  without.  It  is  little  to 
appear  to  be  a  Christian,  if  we  are  not  so  in  effect;  a  Christian 
looks  not  for  favourable  appearances,  but  for  magnanimity  and 
solid  virtue.  I  have  written  to  the  churches,  that  I  may  meet 
death  with  joy,  provided  you  do  not  oppose  it. 

Suffer  me  to  be  the  food  of  lions  and  bears:  it  is  the  short- 
est way  to  heaven:  rather  sharpen  their  appetite,  that  they 
may  leave  nothing  of  me  that  can  fall  into  the  hands  of  any 
one.  When  the  world  shall  see  no  remnant  of  my  body,  then 
shall  I  be  in  truth  the  disciple  of  Jesus  Christ.  Obtain  for 
me  the  grace  to  be  received  by  the  Lord  as  a  pleasing  victim. 
Nothing  makes  any  impression  on  me:  every  thing  I  regard 
as  perfectly  indifferent,  except  the  hope  of  possessing  God. 
Let  the  fire  reduce  me  to  ashes:  let  me  die  a  slow  and  pain- 
ful death  upon  a  cross:  let  my  limbs  be  ground  to  dust,  let 
my  body  be  boiled;  I  will  sufler  all  with  patience,  provided  I 
can  enjoy  Jesus  Christ.  The  possession  of  all  the  kingdoms 
of  the  earth  could  not  render  me  happy;  and  it  is  infinitely 
more  glorious  to  die  for  Jesus  Christ,  than  to  reign  over  all 
the  world." 

VOL.  I. — 14 


^1^ 


210  HISTOKY  OF  THE   CHURCH. 

but  not  without  shedding  torrents  of  tears 
and  beseeching  the  Lord  to  support  our  weak- 
ness." 

Tlie  chair  of  St.  Peter,  was  now  filled  by 
St.  Evaristus,  successor  to  S.  Anacletus.  To 
this  pontiff  some  ecclesiastical  writers  attri- 
bute the  establishment  of  regular  parishes 
in  Rome.  (1)  He  was  succeeded  by  St.  Alex- 
ander, who  was  in  his  turn  succeeded  by  St. 
Sixtus,  and  St.  Sixtus  by  S.  Telesphorus,  a 
Greek,  who,  according  to  the  express  testi- 
mony of  St.  Irenaeus,  suffered  martyrdom. 
This  order  of  succession  appears  certain,  but 
the  duration  of  the  several  pontificates  is  un- 
known^ 

Of  the  church  of  Jerusalem,  there  were  six 
bishops,  in  the  short  space  of  thirteen  years. 
From  this  circumstance  we  may  form  an  idea 
of  the  character    of    Trajan's   persecution. 


(1)  In  the  book  de  Rom.,  Pontif.  we  read  that  Evaristus 
"Titulos  in  urbe  Roma  divisisse  Presbyteris.  By  Titulos 
must  be  understood  certain  specified  churches.  The  same 
book  adds  "Evaristum  Septem  Diaconos  instituisse  qui  custo 
dirent  episcopum  prsedicantem."  They  were  afterwards 
called  Di AGO ]s  I  regionarii,  as  it  was  their  duty  to  preside 
over  seven  separate  districts,  and  in  the  Roman  council  held 
under  S.  Sylvester,  they  are  styled  Diaconi  CARDisAtES 
Cone.  Rom.  3.  cap.  7. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CHURCH.  211 

The  heads  of  the  churches  were,  every  where, 
sought  after,  and  punished  with  unrelenting 
cruelty.  In  this  persecution  St.  Onesmus, 
bishop  of  Ephesus  and  disciple  of  St.  Paul,  re- 
ceived the  crown  of  martyrdom.  (1) 

Although  the  oriental  provinces  were  the 
principal  theatre  of  the  sufferings  and  death 
of  the  Christians,  in  every  other  part  of  the 
empire,  thousands  were,  at  the  same  time, 
crowned  with  martyrdom.  St.  Crescens, 
disciple  of  the  apostles,  was  martyred  at  Vi- 
enna, in  Gaul :  and  St.  Zacharias,  his  successor, 
in  the  same  place  :  in  the  environs  of  Rome, 
St.  Hyacinthus,  and  many  other  Christians 
fell  victims  to  the  rage  of  the  idolatrous 
people.  It  is  probable,  that  St.  Caesarius, 
deacon  of  Taragona,  suffered  at  the  same 
time;  as  also  Zozimus  and  Rufus,  who  had 
accompanied  St.  Ignatius  to  Rome. 

In  Syria,  the  blood  of  the  Christians  was 
shed  more  copiously.  St.  Barsimaeus,  bishop 
of  Edessa,   suffered  with  S.  S.  Sarbelius  and 


(1)  Martyr.  Rom.  10  Feb. 


212  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

Barbca,  (1)  wliom  he  had  converted.  St. 
Eudoxia  suffered  at  IleHopolis  in  Phoenicia. 
The  Greeks  record  an  infinite  number  of  mi- 
racles, wrought  through  her  intercession. 
There  occurred,  at  this  epoch,  in  Syria,  a  tre- 
mendous earthquake,  which  arrested,  for  a 
a  time,  the  fury  of  the  persecution.  (2)  A  more 
alarming  or  destructive  shock  has  perhaps 
never  been  recorded  in  the  annals  of  nations. 
The  description  of  it  given  by  Dio,  is 
truly  terrific:  the  capital  of  Syria  was 
buried  under  its  ruins :  and  of  the  many 
thousand  inhabitants  which  it  contained,  but 
few  individuals  escaped  uninjured.  Every 
circumstance  connected  with  this  terrible  ca- 
tastrophe, was  impressed  with  the  seal  of  the 
Divine  vengeance.  The  historian  makes  no 
particular  mention  of  the  fate  of  the  Chris- 
tians of  Antioch.  It  is  probable  that  having 
been  prophetically  warned  of  the  impending 
danger,  they  fled,  like  their  brethren  of  Jeru- 
salem: it  is  at  least  certain,  that  Hero, 
bishop  of    Antioch,    survived,  and  continued 


(1)  Martyr,  et  Mono!.  29  et.  30  Jan.    (2)  Dio  in  Traj. 


HISTORY    OP    THE  CHURCH.  2lS 

to  govern  his  church  many  years  after  this 
calamitous  event. 

The  millenian  system  still  continued  to  be 
popular  :  and  was,  in  some  degree,  sanctioned 
hy  St.  Papias,  a  man  of  rare  simplicity,  and 
his  disciple  St.  Irenseus.  (1)  From  some  mis- 
understood or  misapplied  passges  of  the  apo- 
calypse and  the  epistles  of  St.  John,  they  con- 
eluded  that  the  just,  after  the  general  resur- 
rection, should  reign  a  thousand  years  on 
earth  :  being  in  a  kind  of  noviciate  for  im- 
mortality; and  gradually  preparing  themselves 
for  the  intuitive  fruition  of  God.  (2)  In  this 
sense,  the  error  had  not  yet  been  condemned 
by  the  church.  By  the  millenarian  heretics 
it  was  understood  in  a  gross  and  voluptuous 
sense  :  repugnant  alike  to  the  spirit  of  reli- 
gion and  the  holiness  of  God.  In  rejecting 
the  former  error,  the  church  has  taught  us 


(1)  Gibbon,  whose  language  on  the  subject  of  religion  appears 
to  be  that  of  a  pagan  rather  than  a  Christian,  inadvertently 
drops  a  sentiment  which  I  think  ought  to  be  frequently  incul- 
cated, and  never  forgotten:  "  It  is  an  honourable  circum- 
stance, he  says,  for  the  morals  of  the  primitive  Christians, 
that  even  their  faults,  or  rather  errors,  were  derived  from  an 
excess  of  virtue."  This  was  certainly  the  case  with  S.  Pa- 
pias and  S.  Irenaeus,  with  respect  to  the  millenium. 

(2)  Euseb.  3  hist,  33. 


214  HISTORY  OF  f  HK  CHURCH. 

that  the  traditions  even  of  tlie  saints  tiieni- 
selves  should  not  be  admitted  indiscriminate- 
ly :  that  none  should  be  adopted,  but  such  as 
are  stamj)cd  with  the  seal  of  her  approbation. 

Towards  the  close  of  the  reign  of  Trajan, 
the  East  was  thrown  into  confusion  by  a  des- 
perate insurrection  of  the  Jews.  Under  the 
conduct  of  a  daring  leader,  they  spread  devas- 
tation around;  massacred  many  of  the  pagans^ 
and  burned  or  pillaged  their  houses. 

The  emperor  gave  orders  to  Lucius  Quin- 
tus,  governor  of  Mesopotamia,  to  quell  the  re- 
volt, in  that  quarter :  and  a  vast  multitude  of 
Jews  in  Mesopotamia  paid  the  forfeit  of  their 
daring  attempt,  by  a  cruel  death.  Thus, 
while  the  church  was  every  day  becoming 
more  flourishing,  in  the  midst  of  persecution 
and  tribulation,  the  synagogue  was  hurrying 
fipace  to  inevitable  destruction. 

Shortly  after  these  disastrous  events,  Tra- 
jan died  :  and  was  succeeded  by  Hadrian  his 
C(msin-german,  in  the  year  of  Jesus  Christ 
119.  This  emperor  was  not  more  favourable 
to  the  Jews,  than  his  predecessor;  but  the 
power  of  that  expiring  nation,  presenting  no 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  215 

eause  of  alarm  or  mieasiness  to  the  Roman 
people,  the  desire  of  revenge  was  forgotten  in 
contempt.  It  was  a  great  misfortune  to  the 
church,  that  the  Romans  confounded  the 
Jews  with  the  Christians.  It  was  this  mista- 
ken notion  which  proved  the  principal  cause 
of  the  persecution,  in  the  reign  of  Hadrian. 
If  this  emperor  has  not  been  reckoned,  by  Eu- 
sebius,  among  the  persecutors  of  the  church, 
it  is  because  he  published  no  formal  edict 
against  it :  (1)  but  merely  suffered  the  flame 
to  be  fanned,  which  had  been  kindled  in  the 
preceding  reign.  The  aversion  which  Ha- 
drian entertained  for  any  other  than  the  popu- 
lar religion  ;  his  passion  for  divination,  astro- 
logy, and  magic,  exceedingly  prejudiced  him 
against  the  sincere  adorers  of  the  true  God : 
especially  as  they  were  also  confounded,  not 
only  with  the  Jews,  but  also  with  the  different 
sects  of  Gnostics. 

A  swarm  of  fanatics,  under  this  appella- 
tion, had  lately  spread  themselves  through 
the  empire,  authorising  and  encouraging  the 
most  shocking  vices.     Saturninus,   Basilides, 

(l)Tertul.  ap.  c.  3. 


216  HISTORY    OP    THE    CHURCH. 

and  Carpocras,  three  celebrated  heresiarclis, 
began  to  dogmatize  at  the  same  time :  they 
had  been  formed  by  Menander,  tlie  disciple  of 
Simon  Magus :  and  blended  in  one  mon- 
strous compound  the  dogmas  and  morality  of 
the  gospel,  witli  the  chimeras  and  immorali- 
ties of  paganism.  (1)  Saturninus  maintained, 
that  the  union  of  marriage  was  impure  and 
damnable :  (2)  Basilides  advanced,  that  the 
body  of  Jesus  Christ  was  incorporeal :  and 
that  he  was  not  truly  crucified.  (3)  Carpocras 
regarded  the  Saviour  as  a  mere  man,  distin- 
guished only  by  his  eminent  virtues.  (4)  All 
these  different  sects  of  Gnostics  or  lUuminati, 
as  they  sometimes  called  themselves,  laid  it 
down  as  a  fundamental  principle,  that  it  is  use- 
less, and  even  forbidden,  to  resist  concupi- 
scence :  they  adduced  passages  of  scripture 
to  justify  their  crimes  :  insisting  that  the  flesh 
was  an  enemy,  to  which  we  should  yield,  in 
the  course  of  this  life. 

Carpocras  had  a  disciple  named  Prodicus, 
who  became  the  father  of  the  sect  of  the  Adam- 


(1)  Vide  Euseb.  3  hist.  26.  (2)  Iren.  lib.  1  c.  12. 
(3)Iren.  lib.  1  c.  23.     (4)  Euseb.  4.  hist.  7. 


HISTORY    OP    THE    CHURCH.  217 

ites :  (1)  they  pretended  to  imitate  the  life  of 
Adam  and  Eve,  during  their  innocence  in  the 
garden:  and  hved  in  criminal  connexions. 
Carpocras  had  a  son,  who,  though  he  Hved  on- 
ly to  his  eighteenth  year,  was  far  more  infa- 
mous and  abandoned  than  his  father.  After 
his  death  he  was  honoured  as  a  God  :  and  in 
a  temple,  erected  to  him,  sacrifices  and  liba- 
tions were  offered  in  his  honour. 

The  Gnostics  soon  branched  out  into  innu- 
merable sects ;  of  these  the  principal  were  the 
Valentinians  :  who,  besides  a  visionary  system 
of  religion  compiled  from  the  philosophers, 
and  especially  from  Plato,  maintained  the  in- 
amissibility  of  grace :  the  Sethians,  from 
the  respect  they  evinced  for  Setli,  the  son  of 
Adam :  the  Cainites  who  professed  to  ho- 
nour Cain,  and  the  bad  men  whom  the  scrip- 
tures condemn :  in  fine,  the  Ophits,  who 
paid  supreme  honours  to  the  serpent  as  to 
the  Saviour  of  mankind.  All  these  sects  are 
a  lamentable  proof  of  the  weakness  of  the  hu- 
man mind,  and  the  corruption  of  the  human 
heart. 


(1)  Theodor.  I  hser.     Epiph.  haer.  52. 


218  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

In  consequence  of  the  shameful  excesses  of 
the  Gnostics,  the  most  unjust  calumnies  were 
every  where  propagated  against  the  Chris- 
tians ;  for  the  pagans  knew  not  how  to  dis- 
criminate between  them,  and  the  wicked  sects, 
who  had  assumed  the  same  denomination. 
They  charged  them,  (and  the  Jews  were  the 
principal  authors  of  this  new  calumny)  with 
laying  on  a  table,  and  covering  with  flour,  an 
infant,  which  the  proselyte,  on  his  initiation, 
was  obliged  to  kill ;  and  from  motives  of  inter- 
est, induced  not  to  reveal  the  ceremony.  The 
credulous  multitude  readily  believed  the  im- 
putation :  and  men  who  should  have  been  su- 
perior to  prejudice,  contributed  to  increase  it. 

In  this  reign,  according  to  some  authors, 
t)ut,  according  to  others,  in  that  of  Trajan, 
St.  Eustachius,  with  all  his  family  suffered  for 
the  faith:  (1)  St.  Sophia,  so  famous  in  the 
East,  was  martyred  with  her  three  daughters  : 
St.  Faustinus,  priest,  and  St.  Jovita,  dea- 
con, were  immolated,  about  the  same  time, 
with  a  number  of  other  Christians.  St. 
Symphorosa,  with  her  seven  children,  ren- 

(1)  Act.  Eustach.  et.  Socior,  ap.  Sur.  torn.  5. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  219 

dered  heroic  testimony  of  the  faith,  in  pre- 
sence of  Hadrian,  and  were  all  put  to  death. 
The  bodies  of  the  seven  brothers  were  thrown 
into  a  deep  pit.  When  the  persecution 
ceased,  these  martyrs  were  transferred  from 
Tivoli,  where  they  had  suffered,  to  Rome; 
and  buried  within  eight  miles  of  the  city. 

The  many  and  grievous  calumnies  circu- 
lated, and  the  ferocious  and  unrelenting  cruel- 
ty exercised,  against  the  Christians,  elicited 
several  apologies  in  their  defence  and  vindi- 
cation. Of  these,  the  first  was  written  by 
Quadratus,  a  disciple  of  the  apostles.  It  was 
addressed  to  Hadrian:  its  principal  object 
was  to  prove,  that  the  miracles  of  Jesus  Christ, 
the  certainty  of  which  was  seldom  disputed, 
were  not  the  effect  of  magic  and  sorcery :  and 
that  the  sick  whom  he  cured,  and  the  dead  he 
raised  to  life,  lived  long  after  the  death  of  their 
adorable  benefactor.  Throughout  this  excel- 
lent production,  we  cannot  but  admire  the 
deep  and  elegant  reasoning  of  Quadratus. 

A  second  apology  was  presented  by  Aris- 
tides,  an  Athenian  philosopher :  this,  accord- 


220  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

ing  to  the  opinion  of  contemporary  writers, 
was  still  more  eloquent  and  erudite  than  the 
former.  It  is  not  extant.  The  proconsul  of 
Asia  remonstrated  with  the  emperor  on  the 
injustice  of  putting  to  death  peaceful  citizens, 
without  a  crime :  after  which  the  persecution 
began  to  relent. 

The  woes  of  the  Jewish  people  were,  about 
this  period,  brought  to  their  consummation. 
The  emperor  Hadrian  conceived  the  design 
to  raise  Jerusalem  from  its  ruins  :  and  accord- 
ingly rebuilt  it,  under  the  name  of  iElia, 
which  was  that  of  his  family.  On  the  site 
where  the  Jewish  temple  had  formerly  stood, 
he  erected  an  altar  to  Jupiter :  (1)  and  for- 
bade any  Jew,  who  would  not  dispense  with 
circumcision,  to  dwell  in  Judea.  This  condir 
tion  roused  the  indignation  of  the  Jews  :  they 
soon  collected  together  from  every  quarter  of 
the  East,  and  stimulated  by  some  daring  and 
rapacious  adventurers,  broke  into  open  insur- 
rection. Rufus,  the  governor,  marched  against 
them  at  the  head  of  his  disciplined  troops ; 


(l)DioinHad. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  221 

and  every  engagement  strewed  the  fields  with 
the  bodies  of  the  unfortunate  IsraeUtes.  (1) 

Their  lands  were  confiscated ;  Israel,  as  the 
prophet  had  foretold,  was  literally  without  a 
"  vineyard  and  a  harvest,"  as  well  as  without 
a  "  temple  and  a  pontiff."  Julius  Severus 
put  the  finishing  stroke  to  this  war.  Five 
hundred  and  eighty  thousand  perished  by  the 
sword ;  and  the  number  of  those  who  were 
carried  off  by  famiiie  and  other  calamities,  is 
incalculable.  The  wretched  survivors  were 
sold  like  beasts,  in  the  valley  which  Abraham, 
the  father  of  Israel,  had  once  inhabited. — 
Thus  did  this  unfortunate  nation  find  their 
grave  in  the  very  place  which  had  been  the 
cradle  of  their  ancestors.  They  were  dis- 
persed ;  without,  however,  being  confounded 
with  other  nations  :  without  liberty ;  without 
laws  ;  without  an  altar ;  and  without  a  sacri- 
fice. 

After  the  entire  reduction  of  Palestine,  the 
church  of  Jerusalem  enjoyed  tranquillity  and 
peace.      Mark,  a   gentile,   was   consecrated 


(1)  Euseb.  in  chron.  et.  4  hist.  6. 


222  HISTORY  OF  TFIE  CHURCH. 

bishop  of  tliat  see ;  and  was  the  sixteenth  in 
succession,  after  the  estahHslnnent  of  Chris- 
tianity. (1)  This  great  event  took  place  to- 
wards the  close  of  Hadrian's  reign,  in  the  year 
of  Christ  137.  For  the  greater  confusion  of 
the  Jews,  the  Romans  placed  a  marble  hog, 
in  derision  of  their  abstinence  from  the  flesh 
of  that  animal,  over  the  gate  of  the  city  that 
looked  towards  Bethlehem.  (2)  They  also 
erected  a  statue  of  Venus,  on  Mount  Calvary, 
on  the  very  spot  where  the  Redeemer  was 
crucified :  an  idol  of  Jupiter  over  the  tomb 
from  whence  he  had  arisen ;  and  another  of 
Adonis  in  Bethlehem.  But  this  was  a  tran- 
sient triumph  for  idolatry ;  the  standard  of  the 
cross  soon  waved  over  the  thrones  of  the 
Caesars,  and  the  mighty  capital  of  the  pagan 
world.  (3) 

(1)  Euseb.  in  chron.  et.  4  hist.  4.     (2)  Hier.  ep.  13  ad  Paul. 
Ambr.  in  Ps.  43.     (3)  Paulin  ep.  1 1  ad.  Lev. 


CHAPTER  m. 


emperors. 

Antoninus  Pius. 

Marcus  Aurelius. 

Lucius  Verus. 

commodus. 

Pertinax. 

julianus. 

Severus. 

Caracalla. 

Geta. 


POPES. 

St.  Telesphorus,  continuep^- 

St.  Hyginus. 

St.  Pius. 

St.  Anicetus. 

St.  Soter. 

St.  Eleutherius. 

St.  Victor. 

St.  Zephyrinus. 


From  the  dispersion  of  the  Jeics^  anno  137,  to 
the  end  of  the  fifth  persecution.  Anno  211. 

The  emperor  Hadrian  died  at  Tivoli,  on 
the  tenth  of  July,  in  the  sixty-second  year  of 
his  age,  and  in  the  year  of  Christ  140 :  he 
was  succeeded  by  Antoninus,  who  was  a  phi- 
losopher ;  and  having  more  accurate  ideas  of 
the  Supreme  Being,  than  the  other  pagans, 
he  esteemed  the  purity  of  the  Christian  wor- 


224  HISTORY  OP  THE  CHURCH. 

ship,  and  the  great  virtues  which  it  produced, 
St.  Justin,  who  was  also  a  philosopher,  but 
had  been  converted  to  the  true  faitli,  present- 
ed to  this  emperor  an  apology,  in  favour  of 
the  Christian  religion. 

St.  Justin  was  born  in  Palestine ;  had  re- 
ceived a  finished  education,  and  was  versed  in 
every  science.  He  himself  informs  us  of  the 
manner  of  his  conversion,  in  a  dialogue  with 
the  Jew  Tryphon,  after  having  long  devoted 
himself  to  the  investigation  of  truth,  and 
sought  it  in  vain,  among  the  different  pagan 
sects.  He  was  one  day  musing  on  the  sea 
shore,  in  silent  meditation,  when  he  perceived 
by  his  side,  a  venerable  old  man,  upon  whose 
countenance  was  blended  suavity  with  majes- 
ty. I  stopped,  says  Justin,  and  looked  at  him, 
without  daring  to  address  him.  He  express- 
ed his  surprise  at  the  notice  I  seemed  to  take 
of  him  ;  and  soon  entered  into  a  very  interest- 
ing conversation.  After  praising  the  zeal 
which  I  had  evinced  in  the  search  after  truth, 
he  reproached  me  with  preferring  speculation 
to  practice  :  I  respectfully  asked  what  he 
would  have  me  do :  you  must,  he   replied, 


HISTORY    OP    THE    CHURCH.  225 

meditate  on  the  books  of  the  Jewish  prophets, 
the  only  true  philosophers :  and  implore 
without  ceasing,  the  Supreme  Being  to  open 
to  you  the  gates  of  light  and  truth."  The 
study  of  the  sacred  books  soon  convinced  Jus- 
tin, of  the  follies  of  paganism  :  he  compared 
them  with  the  sanctity  of  the  religicm  of  the 
Christians ;  and  disabused  of  the  calumnies 
published  against  the  truth  by  the  idolaters, 
he  embraced  the  faith  of  Jesus  Christ  with  his 
whole  heart.  He  retained,  after  his  conver- 
sion, the  philosopher's  gown  :  and  made  fre- 
quent excursions  to  the  East  to  diffuse  the 
light  with  which  his  own  soul  was  replenished: 
he  opened  a  school  for  religious  disputa- 
tions, at  Rome :  and  invited  both  Jews  and 
ff entiles  to  attend  his  instructions. 

In  addressing  his  apology  to  the  emper- 
or, the  senate,  and  the  Roman  people,  he 
omitted  no  circumstance  by  which  he  might 
be  recognised :  so  firmly  was  he  attached  to 
his  principles,  so  superior  to  all  the  dangers,  to 
which  his  faith  might  expose  him.  Of  this 
contempt  for  the  opinions  of  men,  he  gave  a 
striking  proof  in  his  apology  :  "  You  are  call- 

VOL.    T. 15 


226  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

ed,"  said  he,  addressing  liiHiself  to  Autoniniissi 
and  his  presumptive  heirs,  Aurehus  and  Yerus, 
"You  are  called  "  Pious"  and  "  Philosophers," 
by  the  whole  world ;  that  is,  lovers  of  truth 
and  justice  :  and  youf  conduct  will  soon  prove 
how  far  you  are  deserving  of  these  titles.  We 
demand  justice,  not  so  much  for  our  own 
sakes,  as  for  your  real  interest;  to  us  the  loss  of 
hberty  or  life  will  be  no  real  detriment;  whilst 
you,  though  masters  of  the  world,  will  tarnish 
the  lustre  of  your  virtues,  and  be  condemned  at 
the  judgment  seat  of  the  Eternal,  if  you  punish 
us  through  passion  or  through  prejudice. 
The  legal  forms  of  justice  require,  that  an 
exact  investigation  be  made  into  the  conduct 
of  the  accused,  and  that  sovereigns  pass  sen- 
tence according  to  the  invariable  rules 
of  equity  and  wisdom  ;  not  on  mere  presump- 
tion, or  through  caprice,  or  through  arbitrary 
power.  It  is,  therefore,  our  duty  to  explain  our 
manner  of  life  and  doctrines :  if  not  to  es- 
cape death,  which  the  Christian  regards  as  a 
blessing,  at  least  not  to  be  accomplices  in  your 
criminal  ignorance ;  for  which  we  should  be 
responsible,  if  when  we  have  it  in  oiu'  power, 
we  neglect  to  enlighten  you." 


BISTORY  OP  THE  CHURCH.  227 

He  then  dwells,  at  full  leno^th,  on  the  eon- 
duct  of  the  faithful:  the  angelic  purity  of 
their  manners,  and  the  holy  simplicity  of  their 
reliffious  observances.  The  Christians  were 
accused  of  atheism :  this  charge  he  refutes ; 
and  shews  that  atheism  consisted,  not  in 
refusing  incense  and  adoration  to  a  plurality  of 
absurd  divinities,  but  to  the  One,  supreme 
and  eternal  being,  creator  and  preserver  of 
the  universe  ;  whom  the  Christians  more  than 
any  other  people,  endeavoured  to  honour  as 
he  deserves  to  be  honoured ;  and  in  that  man- 
ner which  he  has  taught  them  by  means  of 
his  Son,  eternal  and  omnipotent  like  himself, 
but  clothed  in  human  flesh  for  man's  instruc- 
tion and  redemption. 

Here  to  convince  the  pagans  of  the  neces- 
sity of  revelation,  tlie  holy  apologist  employs 
the  testimony  of  the  prophets,  and  the  sibyls ; 
with  other  proofs  adapted  to  his  subject,  and 
the  genius  of  the  age  in  which  he  lived.  Pre- 
judice in  particular  he  labours  to  remove :  as 
it  formed  the  greatest  obstacle  to  the  pro- 
gress of  Christianity.  To  elfect  this  He  en- 
ters into  an  explanation  of  the  religious  cere- 


228  HISTORY  OF  TIIli:  CIIUKCII. 

monies  and  even  of  the  sacraments;  although 
it  was  forbidden  to  speak  of  them  to  the 
idolaters.  He  clearly  and  explicitly  defines 
the  sacrament  of  the  eucharist ;  as  the  shafts 
of  calumny  and  ridicule  had  principally  been 
levelled  at  that  article  of  the  Christian  faith. 
"  Behold,"  said  he,  "  the  manner,  in  which 
we  admit  those  whom  you  call  the  initiated : 
when  the  catechumen  has  been  washed  in  the 
regenerating  water,  as  an  emblem  of  that  in- 
terior purity  with  which  his  soul  is  adorned 
by  celestial  virtue,  v^e  conduct  him  to  the  place 
where  the  brethren  are  assembled  in  prayer. 
The  prayer  being  ended,  we  salute  him  with 
the  kiss  of  peace :  then  we  present  him  who 
officiates,  with  bread  and  a  chalice  containing 
wine  mingled  with  water.  He  offers  it  to  the 
eternal  Father  in  the  name  of  the  Son  and 
the  Holy  Ghost :  the  deacons,  after  this,  dis- 
tribute the  bread  and  wine  to  every  one  of  the 
faithful,  which  they  receive  under  the  species 
of  ordinary  food :  for  as  we  know,  that  the 
Son  of  God  has  clothed  himself  with  flesh  and 
blood,  so  do  we  also  know,  that  this  nourish- 
ment, consecrated  by  the   sacred  formulas, 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  229 

which  he  himself  has  trans^iitted  to  us, 
become  the  flesh  and  blood  of  Christ,  made 
man  through  love  of  us.  Because  the  apo- 
stles teach,  in  their  writings,  that  he  com- 
manded them  to  do  with  that  bread  and  wine 
as  he  had  done,  when  after  having  taken  the 
bread  and  blessed  it,  he  said,  this  is  my  body; 
and  the  wine,  saying,  this  is  my  blood  ;  he 
added,  do  this  in  commemoration  of  me. 

"But  why  so  much  pains  to  justify  our  con- 
duct ?  Those  very  persons  who  load  us  with 
criminal  imputations,  do  not  themselves  be- 
lieve these  charges  grounded :  they  tolerate 
religions  the  most  foolish  and  corrupt,  whilst 
they  enkindle  against  us  the  fires  of  persecu- 
tion :  they  do  not  punish  the  adorers  of  stones, 
of  cats,  and  of  crocodiles:  no,  not  even  wicked 
Christians,  who  are  unworthy  the  name :  the 
followers  of  Simon  Magus,  of  Menander,  of 
Marcion.  What  injury  does  our  doctrine 
bring  upon  the  state,  that  you  should  resem- 
ble, in  your  hatred  of  our  religion,  those  wicked 
demons,  to  whom  weare  insupportable?  If 
it  appear  to  you  absurd,  let  it  fall  of  itself:  if 
it  be  pure,  and  holy,  and  divine,  how  rash, 


280  mSTORY  OF  THE   CHURCH. 

how  dangerous  to  oppose  it.  You  have  it  in 
your  power  to  persecute  us  :  and  when  the 
decree  is  passed,  we  shall  patiently  reply : 
"The  will  of  God  be  done  :"  for  this  is  the  re- 
spect which  our  religion  teaches  us  to  render  to 
our  legitimate  rulers.  But  we  must  first  declare 
to  you,  and  that  too  in  the  name  of  the  sove- 
reign King  of  kings  and  emperors,  whose 
throne  is  in  the  heavens,  that  you  shall  not 
escape  the  rigour  of  his  judgments,  if  you  per- 
sist in  acting  towards  his  disciples,  with  such 
glaring  injustice." 

We  are  informed  by  Orosius,  one  of  the 
most  ancient  ecclesiastical  writers,  that  this 
apology  made  a  deep  impression  on  the  mind 
of  Antoninus :  and  induced  him  to  favour 
Christianity.  He  wrote  to  the  governors  in 
the  East,  against  whom  the  faithful  had  sent 
their  complaints,  ordering  him  to  suspend  the 
persecution  of  the  Christians.  The  letters 
which  he  sent  to  his  lieutenants  in  Asia,  have 
been  preserved  by  (1)  St.  Melito  and  Euse- 
bius.    It  is  gratifying  to  the  Christian  reader 


(1)  Mel.  ap.    Euseb.  iv.  26. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  281 

to  reflect  on  the  encomiums  which  he  bestows 
on  the  bishops  of  the  church. 

He  reproached  the  idolaters  with  the  cow- 
ardice which  they  manifested,  when  visited  by 
any  pubhc  calamity,  such  as  earthquakes  or 
pestilence :  and  when  they  imputed  these  mis- 
fortunes to  the  vengeance  of  the  gods  against 
the  Christians,  Antoninus  vindicated  the  lat- 
ter, and  spoke  with  great  respect  of  their  de- 
votion to  the  cause  of  virtue  and  religion. 

If  these  representations,  added  he,  be  not 
sufficient,  I  decree  in  confirmation  of  the  or- 
ders of  my  illustrious  predecessor  and  father, 
that  whoever  is  accused  for  no  other  crime 
than  his  religion,  shall  not  only  be  acquitted, 
but  his  accuser  be  punished,  according  to  the 
ordinary  forms. 

This  rescript  was  published  throughout  all 
the  provinces  of  Asia :  the  persecution  abated, 
but  was  not  entirely  extinguished.  There 
were  so  many  motives  for  continuing  the  cry 
of  persecution  against  the  Christians,  that 
they  enjoyed  a  respite  only  in  particular  places: 
and  we  find  many  martyrs,  even  in  the  reign 
of  Antoninus  Pius. 


232  HISTORY  OF  the  church. 

St.  Telespliorus,  tlie  ninth  ponlitit  of  tlie 
Roman  church,  suffered  martyrdom  inider 
tills  emperor.  He  occupied  the  pontilical 
chair  ten  or  eleven  years:  (I)  and  was 
succeeded  by  St.  Hyginus :  St.  Hygimis  by 
S.  Pius :  and  S.  Pius  by  S.  Anicetus.  Under 
tlie  last  mentioned  pontiff,  S.  Hegesippus  went 
to  Rome,  where  he  continued  during  the  pon- 
tificate of  S.  Soter,  until  that  of  S.  Eleutherius, 
which  commenced  in  the  year  179.  He  there 
wrote  the  history  of  the  church  from  the  pas- 
sion of  Christ  down  to  his  own  times.  It  was 
composed  in  the  style  of  the  apostolic  writings: 
some  fragments  are  preserved  by  Eusebius  : 
the  work  itself  is  lost.  It  appears  that  S.  Hege- 
sippus had  made  frequent  excursions  to  the 
distant  churches  to  ascertain  their  discipline, 
maxims  and  doctrine:  and  that  he,  every 
where,  found  them  conformable  to  all  the 
usages,  and  doctrines,  handed  down  by  the 
apostles. 

"  From  the  first  pillars  of  the  church,  (these 
are  his  words)  to  the  present  time,   there  is 


( 1 )  Iren.  lib.  3.  cap.  3.     Tertul.  carm.  cont.  Marcion  lib.  3. 
m  fin.     Aiiast.  de  Rom.  Pontif. 


HISTORY    OP    THE    CHURCH.  233 

no  episcopal  see,  which  has  not  kept,  with  in- 
violable fidelity,  what  the  prophets  had  pre- 
scribed, and  what  the  Lord  himself  had 
preached." 

The  emperor  Antoninus,  after  having  re- 
stored peace  to  the  church,  died  at  the  age  of 
seventy-four  years,  A.  D.  163.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  his  two  adopted  sons  Aurelius  and 
Lucius  Verus.  Verus,  after  a  reign  of  eight 
years,  died,  and  left  Marcus  Aurelius  sole 
master  oi  the  empire.  Whether  viewed  in 
the  light  of  an  emperor  or  a  philosopher,  Aure- 
lius was  deemed  one  of  the  greatest  characters 
that  Rome  ever  produced.  He  prided  himself 
on  being  descended  from  Numa  :  and  like  his 
illustrious  ancestor,  professed  an  extreme  at- 
tachment to  the  superstitions  of  paganism. 
Notwithstanding  his  wonted  clemency,  he 
treated  the  Christians  with  severity,  and  suf- 
fered them  to  be  insulted  and  oppressed  with 
impunity,  in  many  of  the  Roman  provinces. 

Quadratus,  proconsul  of  Asia,  caused  Eu- 
manias  and  ten  other  Christians  to  be  devour- 
ed by  wild  beasts,  in  the  amphitheatre  at 
Smyrna.     The  sight  of  blood  whetted  the 


234  HISTORY    OF    THE    CHURCH. 

appetite  of  the  populace  :  tliey  cried  aloud 
that  the  enemies  of  the  gods  should  be  exter- 
minated, and  Polycarp  be  immolated  to  their 
vengeance.  This  apostolic  and  venerable 
man,  the  disciple  of  St.  John,  did  not  confine 
his  zeal  to  his  own  church  of  Smyrna,  but  visit- 
ed the  churches  in  Asia,  and  had  travelled  as 
far  as  Rome  itself,  to  settle  the  time  for  the 
paschal  celebration,  and  to  oppose  the  heresy 
of  Marcion,  which  was  then  making  dange- 
rous inroads  into  the  capital  of  the  universe. 

This  arch-heretic  was  the  more  to  be  dread- 
ed, as  he  pursued  a  different  plan  from  all 
other  false  teachers,  who  had  preceded  him. 
He  affected  great  austerity:  obliged  his  follow- 
ers to  abstain  from  wine  and  flesh  meat,  and 
to  perform  frequent  and  rigorous  fasts.  He 
admitted  no  disciple,  who  did  not  make  pro- 
fession of  continence  ;  and  marriage  he  posi- 
tively condemned.  He  believed  in  the  two 
principles  of  good  and  evil ;  afterwards  more 
fully  developed  in  the  errors  of  the  Mani- 
cheans,  but  which  were  first  invented  by  this 
heresiarch.  Marcion  was  the  son  of  a  bishop: 
but  being  excluded  from  the  church  for  a  sin 


HISTORY    OP    THE  CHURCH.  235 

against  chastity,  and  refused  absolution  when 
he  sought  it,  he  pubhcly  vowed  to  destroy, 
if  possible,  the  religion  which  had  treated  him 
with  so  much  rigour. 

His  first  teacher  was  Cerdon,  from  whom 
he  borrowed  his  sacrilegious  notions  of  the 
Divinity.  He  denied  the  resurrection  of  the 
body  :  saying,  that  the  body  of  Jesus  Christ 
had  been  composed  of  particles  or  ingredients, 
taken  from  every  planet.  His  principal  disci- 
ple was  Apelles :  who  was  induced,  from  a 
similar  cause,  to  abandon  the  church  and  at- 
tack the  truth :  conscious  of  his  miserable  con- 
dition, he  knew  no  better  consolation,  than  to 
draw  after  him,  into  the  same  abyss,  as  many 
victims  as  possible.  Pressed  by  the  argu- 
ments of  one  Rhodonius,  an  orthodox  doctor, 
he  asserted  that  it  was  useless  to  investigate 
the  subject  of  religion. 

Marcion  was  at  Rome,  when  S.  Polycarp 
arrived  :  (1)  meeting  the  holy  bishop,  he  ask- 
ed whether  he  knew  him  :  yes,  replied  Poly- 
carp, I  know  thee  to  be  the  eldest  son  of  Sa- 


(1)  Iren.  lib.  3.  cap.  3. 


236  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

(an;  (1)  and  lie  immediately  left  thelicrcsiarcli, 
exclaiming :  "  For  what  times,  O  Lord,  hast 
thou  reserved  me !"  Valentinus  was  also  at 
Rome,  at  this  same  period.  So  great  was  the 
authority,  so  extraordinary  the  virtues,  of  Po- 
lycarp,  that  many,  at  his  solicitation,  abjured 
their  errors,  and  returned  to  the  bosom  of  the 
church :  even  the  two  heresiarchs  did  pe- 
nance, and  were  received  into  the  communion 
of  the  faithful :  but  were  soon  rejected  again? 
on  account  of  their  crimes. 

When  the  presence  of  S.  Polycarp  was  no 
longer  necessary  at  Rome,  he  returned  to 
Smyrna  :  a  cruel  persecution  was  now  waged 
against  his  flock :  and  scarcely  had  he  arrived, 
than  Quadratus,  the  consul,  sent  a  body  of 
cavalry  to  arrest  him :  the  faithful  com- 
pelled him  to  retire  into  the  country.  But 
God  had  revealed  to  his  servant  the  death 
that  awaited  him.  Three  days  before  he  was 
taken,  he  told  the  disciples  who  accompanied 
him,  that  he  should  soon  consummate  his  sa- 


(1)  Idem.  ibid.  Euseb.  4.  hist.  13.  The  precise  year  in 
which  S.  Polycarp  went  to  Rome  is  not  known:  according  to 
Pearson  it  was  in  142;  according  to  Tillemont  in  164;  but 
according  to  Eusebius  in  157. 


HISTORY  OP  THE  CHURCH.  237 

crifice  by  fire.  The  soldiers  commissioned  to 
arrest  him,  arrived  at  his  retreat,  at  night,  af- 
ter the  saint  had  laid  down  to  rest.  He  had 
still  an  opportunity  of  escaping  :  but  saying : 
"  The  will  of  God  be  done,"  he  went  out  to 
meet  them  with  a  cheerful  countenance. 
Struck  at  his  venerable  appearance,  and  the 
meekness  with  which  he  addressed  them,  the 
soldiers  whispered,  that  it  was  pitiful  to  think, 
that  they  should  have  come  in  such  numbers, 
and  with  such  haste,  to  arrest  so  good  an  old 
man  :  he  had  supper  prepared  for  them  :  and 
while  they  eat,  he  was  absorbed  in  prayer. 

He  was  then  put  upon  an  ass,  and  conduct- 
ed to  the  city.  On  his  way,  he  was  met  by  a 
magistrate  by  the  name  of  Herod,  who  took 
him  into  his  chariot,  and  endeavoured  to 
persuade  him  to  sacrifice:  or  at  least  call 
the  emperor  "  lord."  Polycarp,  at  first, 
was  silent ;  but,  after  a  few  moments,  re- 
turned this  answer:  "I  cannot  do  what  you 
desire  me :  a  Christian  renders  to  princes, 
the  respect  which  is  due  to  their  character  : 
but  never  will  he  give  them  an  epithet  which 
belongs  to  God  alone."     At  these  words.  He- 


238  HISTORY  OF  THE   CHURCH. 

rod,  throwing  off  the  mask  of  friendship,  thrust 
him  from  the  chariot,  with  such  violence,  that 
his  lejr  was  mucli  bruised  by  the  fall.  This 
did  not  [)revent  the  holy  bishop  from  advan- 
cing cheerfully  to  the  amphitheatre,  where  the 
people  were  assembled.  On  entering  it,  he 
heard  a  celestial  voice,  saying,  "  Polycarp  act 
courageously."  (1) 

He  was  presented  without  delay,  before  the 
proconsul,  who  exhorted  him  to  respect  his 
old  age;  to  swear  by  the  genius  of  Ca?sar ; 
and  to  cry  aloud,  away  with  the  impious; 
meaning  the  Christians.  Turning  towards 
the  pagan  people,  the  saint  exclaimed;  'Away 
with  the  impious  !'  The  proconsul  repeated: 
swear  by  the  enemies  of  Caesar  ;  blaspheme 
Christ.  Polycarp  answered  with  a  smile  :  "  I 
have  served  him  these  four  score  and  six  years, 
and  he  has  never  done  me  any  harm ;  but 
much  good  :  how  then  could  I  blaspheme  my 
King  and  Saviour  ?  I  am  a  Christian."  The 
proconsul  threatened  him  with  wild  beasts  and 
lire.     Polycarp    replied :  bring  your  fire,   it 

(1)    FORTIS    ESTO     POLYCARPE    ET    EXCELSO    ANIMO    REM 

G-ERE.     Spond.  p.  156.  iii. 


HISTORY  OF  THE   CHURCH.  239 

soon  goes  out :  but  there  is  a  fire  which  is 
never  extinguished :  and  in  that  shall  the 
wicked  be  tormented.  In  a  few  moments  a 
large  pile  was  erected  ;  the  Jews  were  par- 
ticularly active  on  this  occasion ;  and  when 
the  executioner  was  about  nailing  the  gene- 
rous confessor  to  the  stake,  allow  me,  he  said, 
to  remain  as  I  am :  he,  for  whom  I  suffer,  will 
give  me  grace  and  power  to  stand  without 
being  bound  :  they  therefore  contented  them- 
selves with  tying  his  hands  behind  his  back  ; 
and  in  this  posture  looking  up  to  heaven,  he 
prayed  in  the  following  manner:  'O  Almighty 
God,  I  bless  thee  for  having  preserved  me  to 
this  hour,  that  I  may  be  numbered  with  thy 
martyrs  and  drink  of  the  chalice  of  thy  beloved 
son :  wherefore,  for  all  things,  I  praise  and 
glorify  thee,  through  the  Eternal  High  Priest, 
Jesus  Christ,  thy  Son,  with  whom,  to  thee 
and  to  the  Holy  Ghost,  be  glory  now,  and  for 
ever.  Amen."  Scarcely  had  he  ended  this 
prayer,  than  the  fire  was  applied  to  the  pile  ; 
but  the  flames  forming  an  arch,  encircled, 
without  injuring,  the  body  of  the  martyr:  and 
such  was  the  fragrance,   which  was  diffused 


240  HISTORY  OP  TIIK  CHURCH. 

aroHHcl,  that  it  seemed  as  if  spices  had  been 
scattered  in  profusion  on  the  flames.  The 
exasperated  idolaters  pierced  his  body  with  a 
spear :  it  was  then  burned  by  the  centu- 
rion. The  rehcs  of  the  holy  martyr,  "  more 
precious  than  gold  or  the  richest  jewels," 
in  the  language  of  the  acts  of  his  martyrdom, 
were  carefully  gathered  up,  and  deposited  in 
the  church  of  Smyrna,  where  his  tomb  is  still 
shown  and  venerated  in  a  little  chapel.  The 
reason  assigned  by  the  centurion  for  consum- 
ing the  body,  is  remarkable  :  lest  the  Chris- 
tians should  adore  it,  instead  of  Jesus  Christ! 
"not  knowing,  say  the  writers  of  these  acts, 
that  if  we  adore  Jesus  Christ,  it  is  only  be- 
cause he  is  the  Son  of  God  ;  and  that  we  love 
and  respect  the  holy  martyrs  merely  because 
they  were  the  friends  and  imitators  of  Jesus 
Christ."  Such  were  the  sentiments  of  the 
primitive  church  on  the  nature  of  the  venera- 
tion paid  to  the  martyrs  and  their  relics.  The 
principal  disciples  of  St.  Polycarp,  were  St. 
Pothinus,  and  St.  Irseneus,  whom  he  sent,  ac- 
companied by  some  other  disciples,  to  preach 
the  gospel  in  Gaul. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  241 

Of  the  epistles  of  St.  Polycarp,  that  to  the 
PhiUppians  is  the  only  one  now  extant;  and  is  a 
standin^proof  of  the  apostoUc  spirit  with  which 
he  was  ammated.  He  exhorts  them  to  "  be 
watchful  in  prayer  lest  they  be  led  into  tempt- 
ation ;  to  be  constant  in  fasting,  glorifying 
by  their  sufferings,  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,'* 
So  great  was  the  respect  in  which  it  was  heldj 
that  after  his  death  it  was  publicly  read  in  the 
Asiatic  churches.  (1) 

St.  Felicitas  and  her  seven  sons  received  the 
crown  of  martyrdom  in  the  same  reign.  In 
vain  did  Publius,  prefect  of  the  city,  endea- 
vour by  threats  and  promises,  to  induce  her 
to  offer  sacrifice.  "  No,"  said  the  holy  wo- 
man, "the  spirit  of  God  renders  me  superior  to 
seduction;  you  may  deprive  me  of  my  life,  but 
death  is  the  road  to  victory."  On  the  follow* 
ing  day,  the  prefect  ascended  the  tribunal,  and 
Felicitas  was  brought  before  him.  He  con- 
jured her  to  have  pity,  at  least  on  her  children, 
if  she  was  insensible  to  her  own  suffering;?  t 
''such  compassion,"  she  replied,  "would  be  the 
worst  of  cruelty."     Then  turning  to  her  chil» 

"f^     (l)Hier.  in  Polycarp 

VOL.  I. — 16 


242  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

dren,  she  pointed  to  heaven,  saying:  it  is  there^ 
that  Jesus  Christ  expects  you  with  his  saints, 
who  liave  traced  out  that  path,  and  consecra- 
ted it  with  his  blood."  Her  seven  children 
were  then  put  to  death  before  their  eyes;  and 
after  them  she  crowned,  by  her  own  martyr- 
dom, the  glorious  sacrifice.   (1) 

St.  Ptolomseus  and  St.  Livius  suffered  about 
the  same  time.  Justin,  who  was  then  at  Rome, 
indignant  at  the  crying  abuse  of  justice,  (since 
it  had  been  made  by  the  emperor  a  capital 
crime  to  denounce  the  Christians,  merely  on 
account  of  their  religion)  drew  up  a  second 
apology,  which  he  addressed  to  the  emperor, 
the  senate,  and  the  Roman  people.  If  they 
persisted  in  their  ancient  prejudices,  he  en- 
treated them  at  least  to  give  the  Christians 
an  opportunity  to  prove  their  innocence,  and 
to  read  before  the  people,  the  sacred  book 
in  which  their  doctrine  was  contained.  "  This 
doctrine,"  continues  the  apologist,  "  has  no- 
thing in  it  that  deserves  to  be  condemned  :  it 
is  very  different  from  the  lessons  of  Epicurus, 
and  other  pagan  writers,  the  reading  of  which 
is   permitted  to  the   whole  world." 

(1)  Ap.Sur.  10  Jul 


HISTORY    OP    THE    CHURCH.  248 

This  second  apology  did  not  experience 
the  same    favourable  reception  as  the  first. 
M.Aurehus  was,  to  an  unusual  degree  of  weak- 
ness, attached  to  the  philosophers  of  his  sect : 
and   one  of   them,  Crescens,  a   cynic,   mor- 
tified by  his  defeat,    in  a  conference  which 
he    had  with  St.  Justin,    exerted  all  his  in- 
fluence with  the  emperor,  to  have  the  defenders 
of  the  truth  condemned.     St.  Justin  had  bold- 
ly confessed  in  his  apology,  that  he  expected 
death  as  his  recompense ;  and  in  a  few  days 
after,  was  apprehended,  with  a  great  number  of 
Christians,  his  disciples  and  fellow  labourers. 
They  were  brought  before  Rusticus,   prefect 
of  Rome,  who  said  aloud  : — "  Justin,  obey  the 
gods,  and  comply  with  the  edicts  of  the  emper- 
or."    Justin  answered  : — "  No  one  can     be 
blamed  for  obeying  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 
Rusticus  :    "  What  religion  do  you  profess  ?" 
Justin  :  "  I  was  born  a  pagan,  I  have  tried  all 
sects,  and  have  finally    preferred  the  Chris- 
tian   religion,    so    much    despised   by  those 
who   are  unacquainted  with  it."     Rusticus : 
"  Art  thou  then  infatuated  with  that  supersti- 
tion ?     Justin  :  "  Certainly;  it  is  the  only  true 


244  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

path  to  happiness."  Riisticus  :  "  What  are 
the  tenets  of  the  Christian  rehgion  ?"  Justin: 
''  Christians  beUeve  in  one  God,  Creator  of  the 
universe,  and  confess  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the 
Son  of  God,  foretold  by  the  prophets,  the  Au- 
thor of  salvation,  and  Judge  of  mankind." 
Rustrcus :  "  Where  do  the  Christians  assem- 
ble ?"  Justin  :  "  Wherever  they  can ;  God  is 
not  confined  to  any  place."  Rusticus  :  ''  You 
are  then,  indeed,  a  Christian  ?"  Justin  :  "  I 
am." 

The  judge  then  put  the  same  questions 
to  each  of  his  companions.  They  all  answered^ 
that  they  w^ere  Christians.  The  prefect  again 
addressed  Justin  :  Do  you  who  are  so  famed 
for  eloquence,  and  who  think  that  you  possess 
the  true  philosophy,  flatter  yourself,  that  after 
being  scourged  from  head  to  foot,  you  will  as- 
cend to  heaven  ?  "I  know  it,  he  replied,  I 
cannot  doubt  it."  The  martyrs  were  then 
led  to  execution,  and  with  hymns  of  praise 
and  thanksgiving,  cheerfully  made  the  sacri- 
fice of  their  lives.  (1) 


(1)  Martyrol.  Rom.  et  alia  13  April.     Menal.  and  Kal.  Jun. 
Epiph.  haer.  46. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  245 

St.  Justin  is  one  of  the  most  ancient,  and 
most  venerable  of  the  fathers  of  the  church. 
His  two  apologies ;  the  second  part  of  his 
treatise  on  the  unity  of  God  ;  two  discourses 
to  the  gentiles,  and  his  interesting  dialogue 
with  the  Jew  Tryphon,  are  still  extant. 

At  this  period,  the  church  was  disturbed 
by  the  extravagant  doctrines  of  the  heretic 
Montanus.  (1)  He  was  a  native  of  Phrygia ; 
and  had  been  instructed  in  the  Christian  re- 
ligion: he  was  ambitious  of  the  episcopal  dig- 
nity, from  which,  being  at  once  a  eunuch,  and 
a  Neophyte,  he  was  excluded.  His  pride  was 
bounded :  and  joining  with  two  women, 
Priscilla  and  Maximilla,  he  broached  the 
most  absurd  doctrines.  The  female  associ- 
ates were  rich,  and  soon  debauched  a  number 
of  avaricious  and  unprincipled  followers.  The 
first  use  which  they  made  of  the  pretended 
gifts  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  w£is  to  separate  from 
their  husbands. 

They  preferred  themselves  to  the  prophets 
and  apostles ;  and  gave  Montanus  the  name 
of  the  Paraclete  ;  asserting  that  he  was  the 
(1)  Euseb.  in  chron. 


246  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

tliird  person  of  tlie  Holy  Trinity.  They  car- 
ried tlieir  impiety  so  far,  as  to  maintain,  that 
God,  having  failed  to  save  the  world,  by  the 
propliets,  and  even  by  the  Incarnate  Word,  had 
descended  into  Montanus,  Priscilla,  and  Max- 
imilla. 

The  Montanists,  affecting  an  extreme  aus- 
terity of  morals,  scarcely  admitted  any  sin- 
ners to  penance  :  (1)  their  numbers  increased 
in  several  parts  of  Asia ;  to  check  its  progress 
effectually,   the    church    condemned  the  new 
heresy.     After  which,    impelled  by   the   evil 
spirit,  Montanus  and  Maximilla  hanged  them- 
selves.    Their  errors  still  survived,  and  were 
embraced,   as    shall  soon  appear,  by  some  of 
the  most  learned   men.     This  sect,   hke  all 
others,  built  on  the  passions  of  men,  branch- 
ed out  into  several  ramifications  :  some  of  the 
followers   of  Montanus   became  attached  to 
one  Proculus  ;  others  to  ^schines,  and  many 
to  a  woman,   named  Quintilla,   who    carried 
the  artifice  of  seduction  so  far,  as  to  admit 
women  to  the  priesthood  and  episcopacy. 


(I)  Tertull.  adv.  Prax.  c.   1.     Philast.  de  haer.  cap.  50. 
Epiph.  haeio  48. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  247 

At  this  same  ej30cli,  the  impieties  of  Ceren- 
thns  and  Ebion,  a«ainst  the  Incarnate  Word, 
were  revived,  by  Theodotus  of  Byzantium. 
He  had  apostatized,  during  the  persecution, 
and  fled  to  Rome,  where  he  hoped  to  conceal 
himself.  But  he  was  soon  recognised  :  and 
when  asked  how  a  man,  as  learned  as  he  was, 
could  betray  the  truth  ;  he  replied  :  that  he 
had  not  denied  God,  but  Jesus  Christ;  who, 
he  said,  was,  by  nature,  a  man  like  himself. 

He  was  soon  surrounded  by  a  crowd  of  dis- 
ciples, who  vvere  called  Alogi,  or  rejecters  of 
the  Word.  They  maintained  that  the  apostles 
had  transmitted  this  doctrine :  that  it  was 
preserved  in  the  church,  till  the  time  of  pope 
Victor :  and  that  the  truth  was  corrupted  by 
Zephyrinus,  the  fourteenth  sovereign  pontifl*. 

This  is  the  account,  given  by  a  contem- 
porary author,  as  Eusebius,  whose  testi- 
mony is  unquestionable,  assures  us.  (1) 
/That  author,  whos^  name  is  at  present  un- 
known, proves  the  Divinity  of  the  Incarnate 
Word,  from  that  very  tradition  which  the 
Alogi  asserted  to  militate  in  their  own  fa- 


(l)Euseb.  5.  hist.  15. 


248  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

voiir.  "  Have  we  not,  he  says,  innumerable 
hymns  and  canticles,  which  honour  Jesus 
Christ,  as  the  Word  of  God,  and  as  God  him- 
self ?  Can  our  adversaries  dare  impute 
their  doctrine  to  the  very  pontiff,  who  con- 
demned Theodotus,  the  father  of  these  apos- 
tates? And  why  do  they  quote  the  sacred 
scriptures,  when  they  adulterate  those  oracles 
of  truth,  under  pretence  of  correcting  them  ? 
But,  he  continues,  to  cover  them  with  confu- 
sion, it  will  be  sufficient  to  compare  the  seve- 
ral copies  which  they  have  made  :  not  only  do 
these  copies  disagree  with  that  which  they  all 
received,  in  the  bosom  of  the  true  church,  but 
they  are  even  at  variance  with  each  other." 
By  such  invincible  arguments,  did  he  con- 
found those  innovators,  who  pretended  that 
the  Christian  faith  was  not  then  such,  as  it 
had  been,  from  the  commencement  of  the 
church. 

Another  Theodotus,  posterior  to  him  of  By- 
zantium, was  the  author  of  the  sect  called  Mel- 
chisedeckians,  from  their  having  raised  Mel- 
chisedeck  into  a  celestial  virtue ;  the  interces- 
sor of  angels,  and  superior  to  Jesus  Christ,  who, 


HISTORY  OP  f  HE  CHURCH.  249 

they  said,  was  only  the  mediator  between  God, 
and  men.   (I) 

Praxeas  gave  birth  to  the  sect  of  Patripas- 
sionists,  who  attributed  the  passion  and  the 
sufferings  of  the  cross  to  the  Father,  as  well  as 
to  the  Son.   (2) 

Hermogenes,    a  painter  and  philosopher, 
gave  a  still  wider  range  to  the  flights  of  his  im- 
agination.    He   left  the  church,    and  main- 
tained that  matter  was  eternal ;  that  the  de 
vils  would  be  one  day  re-united  to  this  almost 
spiritual  substance  ;  and  that  the  body  of  Je- 
sus Christ  was  in  the  sun.     He  dogmatized  in 
Africa.     In  Galatia  Hermias   and  8eleucus 
supported  the  same  opinion  of  the  co-eternity 
of  matter  with  God,  with  all  the  consequences 
which  necessarily  flowed  from  so  absurd  a 
theory  :   and  that  the  soul  of  man  was  a  va- 
pour,   created  by  the  angels.     For  souls  of 
such   a   texture,   they    concluded    that   the 
baptism  of  water   was   useless ;  and  conse- 
quently adopted,  in  its  literal  sense,  the  pas- 
sage of  St.  John :     "  He  will  baptize  you  in 
spirit  and  in  fire."     They  maintained,  in  like 

(1)  Tertull  de  praescript  cap.  ult.    (2)  Id.  Ado.  Prax.  cap.  1. 


250  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCIT. 

manner,  that  this  world  is  hell,  and  that  hu- 
man generation  is  to  be  considered  the  only 
resurrection.   (1) 

Such  errors  and  impieties  roused  all  the 
zeal  of  the  pious  and  learned  teachers  of  the 
truth,  so  fully  adequate  to  the  task  of  arrest- 
ing the  progress  of  seduction.  To  the  here- 
sy of  the  Montanists  we  are  indebted  for  the 
epistles  of  St.  Denis,  bishop  of  Corinth. 

Besides  that  addressed  to  the  Romans,  he 
wrote  many  edifying  letters  to  his  suffragan 
bishops  who  ruled  the  churches  of  Gortyna, 
Lacedaemon  and  Athens;  but  his  pen  was  prin- 
cipally employed  against  the  errors  of  Mar- 
cion.  The  bitter  complaints  which  the  holy 
bishop  makes  of  the  heretics,  who  corrupt- 
ed his  writings  to  give  a  sanction  to  their 
own  errors,  is  a  striking  testimony  of  the 
esteem,  in  which  this  learned  father  was  held. 
(1)  St.  Jerom  tells  us,  that  he  shewed,  with 
as  mucli  eloquence  as  erudition,  from  what 
sect  of  philosophy  every  heresy  broached  in 
the  church,  had  derived  its  origin. 

(1)  Orig.  periar.  lib.  1.  et  2.  Euseb.  de  praep.  evang.  lib.  7. 
cap.  8.  9. 

(2)  Euseb.  4  hist.  g.  22. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  251 

8t.  Melito,  bishop  of  Sardis,  rendered  him- 
self equally  illustrious  in  Asia,  by  a  number  of 
learned  works :  (1)  all  of  which,  with  the 
exception  of  a  few  fragments,  have  been  unfor- 
tunately lost.  He  gave  a  catalogue  of  the  sa- 
cred books  :  the  first  noticed  by  ecclesiastical 
writers,  in  an  address  to  Aurelius  the  Roman 
emperor;  whom  he  conjured  to  put  an  end  to 
the  countless  martyrdoms,  caused  by  the  indis- 
criminate fury  of  the  pagans  :  he  also  remind- 
ed him  that  no  edict  had  ever  been  published 
against  the  Christians,  except  by  the  w  orst  of 
tyrants,  Nero  and  Domitian. 

St.  Athenagoras,  a  celebrated  apologist 
of  Christianity,  flourished  at  the  same  period. 
He  had  been  converted  from  paganism  to  the 
true  faith,  and  his  piety  extorted  great  respect, 
even  from  his  calumniators,  for  the  Chris- 
tian virtues.  His  apology  is  characterized  by 
strong  reasoning,  and  noble  eloquence  :  it  con- 
tains an  accurate  and  profound  explanation 
of  the  most  sublime  mysteries  of  religion. 
Whether  such  powerful  arguments  made  any 
impression  on  the  emperor's  mind,   is   not 

(1)  Euseb.  4  hist.  c.  25. 


252  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCIf. 

known.  An  astonisliins^  event,  however,  took 
place  a  few  years  after,  which  is  fully  authen- 
ticated by  Eusebius,  (1)  and  DionofHali- 
carnassus.  (2)  The  emperor  was  engaged 
in  a  w^Y  with  the  Germans  and  Sarma- 
tians ;  his  army  surrounded  on  the  arid 
mountains  of  Bohemia,  by  the  Quadi,  one 
of  the  tribes  of  those  nations,  was  redu- 
ced by  heat  and  thirst  to  the  last  extremity. 
There  were  in  the  Roman  army  many  Chris- 
tians, who  addressed  their  prayers  to  heaven 
for  relief,  in  sight  of  the  enemy,  who  mocked, 
and  were  preparing  to  attack  them.  Their 
prayers  were  not  disregarded  :  rain  fell  in 
torrents,  on  the  side  of  the  Romans,  who  re- 
ceived the  refreshing  shower  in  their  helmets  ; 
whilst  whole  battalions  of  the  barbarians  were 
beaten  down,  by  hail  and  thunder.  The  Ro- 
mans gained  a  decisive  victory ;  to  perpe- 
tuate the  remembrance  of  which  they  erected 
at  Rome,  a  magnificent  monument ;  which 
is  standing  at  the  present  day,  and  is  called 
the  pillar  of  Antoninus.  The  pagans,  it  is 
true,  generally  attributed  the  miracle  to  the 

(1)  Euseb.  chron.  an.  174.    (2)  Dioft.  epitom.  in.  M.  Aur. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  253 

Gods ;  but  the  emperor,  ascribed  it  exclusive- 
ly to  the  prayers  of  the  Christians.  His  let- 
ters to  the  Roman  senate,  which  were  extant 
in  the  time  of  Tertullian,  sufficiently  attests 
his  conviction  of  the  power  of  Jesus  Christ. 
He  gave  the  name  of  the  "  thundering  legion" 
to  the  Christians  who  had  gained  him  so  ex- 
traordinary a  victory  ;  and  forbade  any  one, 
under  the  severest  penalties  to  accuse,  perse- 
cute, or  molest  them,  in  any  way. 

This  did  not,  however,  prevent  the  death  of 
many  Christians  in  a  general  commotion,  ex- 
cited three  years  later,  by  the  pagans.  Of 
these,  Gaul  was  the  principal  theatre.  The 
faith  had  been  carried  to  that  country  in  the 
first  age  by  the  disciples  of  the  apostles.  St. 
Crescens,  who,  as  St.  Epiphanius  and  The- 
odoret  assure  us,  was  sent  by  Saint  Paul  to 
preach  the  gospel  in  Transalpine  Gaul,  was 
the  first  bishop  of  Vienna.  The  foundation 
of  an  episcopal  church  at  Aries,  by  Trophimus, 
a  disciple  of  St.  Paul,  was  prior  to  that  of  Vi- 
enna, and  rests  on  authority  still  more  un- 
questionable. From  that  city,  which  received 
its  first  bishop  from  the  aj^ostles  themselves, 


254  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

tlie  light  of  faith  was  comiiiunicated  to  the 
other  provinces.   (1) 

Towards  the  middle  of  the  second  century, 
St.  Pothinus,  a  disciple  of  St.  Polycarp,  pasS' 
ed  from  Italy  into  Gaul,  and  fixed  his  see  in 
the  city  of  Lyons.  The  progress  of  the  gos- 
pel under  this  saint,  and  those  that  accompa- 
nied him,  soon  attracted  the  attention,  and 
inflamed  the  jealousy,  of  the  pagans.  They 
waited  an  opportunity  to  wreak  their  ven- 
geance on  the  professors  of  the  new  religion  ; 
and  this  Avas  furnished  by  the  concourse  as- 
sembled at  Lyons,  according  to  custom,  every 
fifth  year,  to  celebrate  the  public  games. 

They  began  by  imputing  the  most  horrid 
crimes  to  (2)  the  Christians,  and  forbidding 
them  to  enter  any  public,  or  even  private 
houses,  except  such  as  belonged  to  them- 
selves, or  those  of  their  own  communion. 
From  this,  they  advanced  to  still  more  heinous 
insults.  They  plundered  the  houses  of  the 
Christians  :  and  seized,  with  rapacious  hands, 
and  indiscriminate  rage,  on  their  possessions. 


(1)  Vid.  Spoftdan.  p.  58.  an  46. 1. 

(2)  Ep.  Mart.  Vien.  et  Ludg. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  255 

'To  every  outrage,  the  Christians  opposed 
meekness  and  patience ;  this  return  so  en- 
raged their  persecutors,  that  they  threw  many 
ii;ito  confinement,  until  the  arrival  of  the  go- 
vernor :  who  caused  the  Christians  to  be  tor- 
mented, on  the  bare  suspicion  of  the  crimes, 
with  which  the  idolaters  had  charoed  them. 

A  young  Christian,  named  Epagathus,  un- 
dertook to  plead  in  behalf  of  the  holy  confess- 
ors. But  the  crowds  which  surrounded  the 
tribunal,  raised  an  unanimous  cry  against  him '. 
and  the  governor  demanded  whether  he  too 
were  a  Christian  ?  Epagathus  openly  confess- 
ed his  belief,  and  was  soon  added  to  the 
other  sufferers  for  the  faith.  The  fury  of  the 
people,  and  the  governor,  was  principally  di- 
rected against  the  deacon  Sanctus,  the  Neo- 
phyte  Maturus,  and  a  female,  by  name  Blan- 
dina.  Several  weak  and  pusillanimous  bre- 
thren had  scandalized  and  afflicted  the  holy 
confessors,  by  cowardly  yielding  in  the  hour 
of  trial :  and  they  trembled  for  this  pious  fe- 
male. Her  features  were  beautiful ;  her 
figure  and  whole  person  peculiarly  interesting. 
But  the  generous  girl  notwithstanding  her  ex- 


256  HISTORY  OP  THE  CHURCH. 

qiiisite  sensibility,  and  the  torments  inflicted 
on  her,  astonished  all  by  her  constancy :  her 
execntioners,  exhausted  by  fatigue,  were  ob- 
liged, to  relieve  each  other,  several  times,  du- 
ring her  long  sufferings.  They  laboured  to 
extort  from  her  a  confession  of  some  or  other 
crime  which  could  reflect  disgrace  upon  the 
Christians:  but  her  only  reply  was :  "lama 
Christian  :  the  Christians  commit  no  crimes." 
The  firmness  of  the  deacon  Sanctus  pro- 
voked, no  less,  the  rage  of  the  unrelenting 
governor.  Heated  plates  of  copper  were  ap- 
plied to  his  naked  body :  but  amid  all  his  suf- 
ferings, he  remained  immoveable  without  ut- 
tering a  groan.  In  this  mangled  condition 
he  was  thrown  into  prison :  and  after  a  few 
days,  the  same  inhuman  process  was  repeated 
on  him.  But  he  continued  resolute:  and  by 
a  manifest  interposition  of  heaven,  his  wounds 
became  suddenly  healed.  (1) 

After  this,  all  the  prisoners  were  thrown 
into  a  deep  and  filthy  dungeon,  where  many 
of  them  perished  in  extreme  misery. 


(1)  Greg.  Tur.  de  glor.  Martyr,  cap.  4^♦ 


HISTORY    OP    THE    CHURCH.  257 

The  venerable  Pothinus  was  next  appre- 
hended. He  was  eighty  years  old  ;  sick,  and 
so  feeble,  that  he  was  obliged  to  be  carried  to 
the  tribunal.  The  governor  asked  him  who 
was  the  God  of  the  Christians.  To  this  ques- 
tion the  aged  bishop  replied  :  if  you  were 
worthy,  you  should  know.  Immediately  the 
blows  of  the  by-standers  felled  him  to  the 
ground:  and  being  drawn,  half  dead,  from  the 
hands  of  the  infuriated  multitude,  he  was 
thrown  into  prison,  where  he  expired  two 
days  after. 

The  other  martyrs  were  then  tortured  with 
the  refinements  of  the  most  wanton  cruelty : 
and  Blandina,  having  been  long  tormented, 
and  borne  her  sufferings  with  a  heroism  for 
which  the  pagans  could  find  no  parallel,  was 
at  last  burned:  and  her  ashes,  with  those  of  for- 
ty-eight others,  were  cast  into  the  Rhone. 
The  remains  of  the  amphitheatre  in  which 
they  were  martyred,  are  still  to  be  seen  on 
Mount  Forviere,  which  derives  its  name  from 
the  latin  words  Forum  Vetus.  The  ancient 
city  of  Lyons  was  built  on  this  mountain,  and 
the  Christians  who  suffered  on  this  occasion 

VOL.  I. — 17 


258  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

were  called  the  martyrs  of  Aisnay.  Towards 
the  year  120  St.  Irenaeus  succeeded  St.  Po- 
thinus,  in  the  see  of  Lyons.  (1)  He  was  born 
in  Asia,  and  placed  by  his  parents,  under  the 
direction  of  St.  Polycarp.  He  likewise  re- 
ceived lessons  from  Papias,  a  holy  and  cele- 
brated teacher,  though  one  of  the  principal 
authors  of  the  Millenian  system. 

Irenaeus  made  a  deep  study  of  the  profane 
writers,  in  order  to  combat  the  pagans  with 
their  own  weapons  ;  or  to  confound  the  here- 
tics, who  were  constantly  appealing  to  the 
works  of  the  philosophers. 

Though  worthy,  on  account  of  the  sweetness 
of  his  disposition,  of  the  epithet  "  pacific ;" 
which  the  word  Irenaeus  implies  ;  he  made 
the  enemies  of  the  faith  tremble  by  his  words 
and  works.  Never  was  there  a  juncture  in 
which  a  pastor  stood  more  in  need  of  talents 
and  virtue.  The  storm  which  had  spread  de- 
vastation through  the  church  he  was  appoint- 
ed to  govern,  was  only  slumbering ;  it  soon 
broke  forth  with  increased  fury. 

(1)  Euseb.  5  hist.  8.  Hier.  ep.  84  ad  Mag.  et  de  scrip. 
Eccl.  in  Iren. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CHURCH.  259 

Two  young  men,  Epipodius  and  Alexander, 
were  its  first  victims.  In  their  boy-hood,  they 
had  contracted  an  intimate  friendship,  which 
the  striking  resemblance  of  their  vntues  ce- 
mented and  increased.  They  were  arrested 
together,  continued  firm  under  their  torments, 
and  received,  on  the  same  day,  the  palm  of 
martyrdom. 

S.  Marcellus  and  Valerian  suffered  about 
the  same  time,  and  in  the  same  place ;  S.  Seve- 
rinus,  S.  Exuperius,  and  S.  Felician,  at  Vienna. 

But  no  martyrdom  reflected  more  honour 
on  the  church,  than  that  of  a  young  man 
named  Symphorian.  He  was  descended  from 
an  illustrious  Christian  family ;  and  had  re- 
ceived an  education  suitable  to  the  nobility  of 
his  birth.  His  fellow  citizens  had  assembled 
to  celebrate  the  feast  of  Cybele  ;  for  which  im- 
pious worship,  he  openly  testified  his  marked 
aversion.  He  was  instantly  carried  before 
Heraclius,  who  held  the  office  of  judge.  He- 
raclius  asked  if  he  were  a  Christian  ;  and  when 
he  boldly  confessed  the  faith,  the  judge  demand- 
ded  why  he  had  dared  to  express  his  disrespect 
for  the  mother  of  the  gods  ?     I  have  already 


'260  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHtlRCH. 

told  you,  answered  Syrnphorian,  I  am  a  Chris- 
tian, and  adore  but  one  true  and  living  God, 
who  reigns  in  heaven  :  as  to  the  idol  of  Cy- 
bele,  I  would  trample  it  in  the  dust.  Herac- 
lius  being  informed  that  he  was  a  Roman  ci- 
tizen, ordered  the  decree  of  the  emperor  to 
be  read.  It  was  as  follows  ;  "  The  empe* 
ror  Aurelius  to  all  his  officers  and  governors  : 
we  have  learned  that  the  laws  are  despised 
by  those  who  are  called  Christians.  Let  such 
persons  be  arrested  ;  and  if  they  persist  in 
their  impiety,  let  them  be  put  to  death."  The 
judge  then  said,  what  do  you  think  of  this,  Sym- 
phorian  ?  If  you  do  not  submit  to  the  orders 
of  the  emperor,  your  disobedience  to  him,  and 
the  immortal  gods,  can  be  atoned  for,  only  by 
your  blood.  The  martyr  replied,  that  he 
should  never  consider  the  idols  in  any  other 
light,  than  as  instruments  used  by  Satan  for 
the  perdition  of  souls.  Heraclius  instantly 
commanded  him  to  be  beaten  with  clubs,  and 
then  remanded  to  prison.  Two  days  after  he 
was  brought  out  of  his  dungeon,  and  despis- 
ing every  offer  and  every  bribe  held  out  to 
him  by  the  judge,  he  was  condemned  to  die 


HISTORY    OF    THE  CHURCH.  261 

by  the  sword.  Symphorian  heard  the  sen- 
tence with  the  hvehest  joy.  As  he  passed  out 
of  the  town  to  the  place  of  execution,  his  mo- 
ther standing  on  the  walls  of  the  city,  cried 
out  to  him  :  "  My  son,  Symphorian,  remem- 
ber the  living  God.  Look  up  to  heaven  where 
God,  who  reigns  for  ever,  waits  for  you."  He 
suffered  with  courage ;  tlic  faithful  interred 
his  body  near  a  fountain,  out  of  the  common 
field  of  execution.  His  tomb  became  famous 
for  miracles,  and  Euphonius,  who,  about  the 
middle  of  the  5th  century,  became  bishop  of 
Autun,  built  over  it  a  church,  which  he  dedi- 
cated to  God,  under  the  patronage  of  the 
martyr. 

St.  Benignus,  another  disciple  of  St.  Poly- 
carp,  who  carried  the  faith  into  the  West,  to- 
gether with  Andochius,  a  priest,  and  Thyrses,a 
deacon,  passed  some  years  at  Autun. — 
Both  he  and  his  fellow  labourers  terminated 
their  apostolic  career  by  a  cruel  and  lingering 
martyrdom.  An  almost  countless  multitude  of 
other  martyrs  fertilized  that  country  with  their 
blood,  and  imparted  to  its  soil  that  spiritual 
fecundity  which  has  since  given  birth  to  so 
many  illustrious  men. 


262  HISTORY    OF    THE    CHURCH. 

The  eflfoi  ts  of  the  heretics  asjainst  the  true 
rehirion,  were  still  more  fatal  than  the  most 
bloody  persecution.  A  set  of  Gnostics,  head- 
ed by  Blastus  and  Florinus,  disciples  of  Val- 
entinian,  carried  their  errors  into  Gaul.  (1) 
St.  Ireneeus  exerted  all  his  zeal,  and  all  his 
talents,  to  oppose  their  progress.  He  com- 
posed two  excellent  treatises  against  Florin- 
us. The  object  of  the  first  was  to  prove  a 
unity  of  principle  ;  or  that  God  was  not  the 
author  of  sin.  The  second  was  against  the 
system  of  spiritual  or  aetherial  being,  invented 
by  Valentinian.  (2)  This  celebrated  father 
published  many  other  works,  which  have  not 
come  down  to  us  ;  and  of  the  former,  only  a 
few  fragments  are  remaining.  His  work 
against  heresies  is  extant  only  in  a  transla- 
tion :  but,  though  it  must  lose  much  of  its  ori- 
ginal merit,  it  is  nevertheless  an  invaluable 
treasure.  It  opens  with  a  review  of  the  vi- 
sionary systems  of  Valentinian. 

Having  laid  down  a  profession  of  faith,  in 
all  its  purity,  such  as  was   received  from  the 


(1)  Euseb.  5.  hist.  14.  Theodor.  haer.  fab.  lib.  1.  (2)Euseb. 
cap.  19, 


HISTORY  OP  THE  CHURCH.  268 

immediate  discijiles  of  the  Saviour  ;  the  sym- 
bol or  creed  drawn  up  by  the  apostles,  and 
believed  by  all  the  Christian  churches  of  the 
w^orld  ;  he  contrasts  in  a  luminous  manner, 
the  uniformity  of  this  faith,  with  the  innumera- 
ble variations  of  the  doctrines  of  all  heretics, 
from  Simon  Magus  down  with  Valentinian. 

Of  all  the  heresies  which  he  enumerates  in 
the  course  of  the  work,  he  subjoins  a  refuta- 
tion :  shews  the  source  from  which  error  most 
commonly  springs  ;  and  proves,  from  experi- 
ence, that  heresy  is  generally  the  offspring  of 
corrupt  morals  :  he  speaks  of  the  regular  suc- 
cession of  bishops  ;  and  dwells  particularly  on 
the  prerogatives  of  the  see  of  Rome  ;  with 
which  he  says,  on  account  of  its  pre-eminence, 
and  supremacy,  the  faithful,  of  every  country, 
should  be  strictly  united.  Here  he  enumerates 
all  the  popes  who  had  presided  over  that  first 
and  greatest  of  all  sees.  S.  Peter,  S.  Linus,  S. 
Cletus,  S.  Clement,  S.  Anacletus,  S.  Evaristus, 
S.  Alexander  1,  S.  Sixtus  1,  S.  Telesphorus, 
S.  Hyginus,  S.  Pius  1,  S.  iVnicetus,  S.  So- 
ter,  and  S.  Eleutherius,  who  then  filled  the 
apostolical  chair.     He   proves,  by  a  series  of 


264  HISTORY  or  THE  CHURCH. 

conclusive  arguments,   the  unity   of  God,  the 
divinity  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 
In  fine,   he  establishes  lucidly,  the  different 
tenets  of  our  faith  :    such  as  original  sin,  free 
will,  and  the  real  presence  of  Jesus  Christ  in 
the  eucharist.     The  belief  of  the  real  presence 
is  so  clearly  and  distinctly  shewn  by  him,  that 
he  considers  it  as  a  point  altogether  incontest- 
able :  and  resting  on  this,  which  even  his  ad- 
versaries were  obliged  to  admit,  he  confounds, 
with  more  facility  the  errors  contrary   to  the 
other  dogmas  of  faith.     "  How,  says  the  holy 
doctor,  will  they  be  convinced  that  the  eucha- 
ristic  bread  is  the  body  of  oar  Lord,  and  the 
chalice  his  blood,  if  they  confess^  him  not  to  be 
the  son  of  the  Eternal.     And  against  the  Mar- 
cionites  he  says  :    "  If  the  Saviour  be  not  the 
son  of  the  Almighty,  how  could  he  have  de- 
clared that  the  bread  was  his  body,  and  that 
the  wine  of  the  chalice  was  changed  into  his 
blood.    All  the  other  fundamental  truths  of  re- 
ligion, attacked  in  that,  as  well  as  in  succeed- 
ing ages,  are  established  with  equal  learning 
and  precision  in  five  books  ;  which  prove  the 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  265 

uniformity  of  the  Catholic  faith  in  every  age. 
With  so  many  precious  testimonies  are,  howev- 
er, commingled  some  errors,  flowing  from  re- 
mote principles,  on  which  the  church  had  not 
yet  decided.  He  imagined,  with  the  Milleni- 
ans,  that  after  the  first  resurrection,  the  souls 
of  the  just  were  to  reign  a  thousand  years  on 
earth  with  Jesus  Christ :  the  same  zeal  which 
urged  him  to  combat  and  refute  the  allegori- 
cal explanations  given  to  certain  parts  of 
scripture  by  heretics,  led  him  into  the  oppo- 
site extreme  ;  and  induced  him  to  interpret 
too  literally,  those  texts,  which  relate  to  the 
glory  of  the  church,  and  the  happiness  of  the 
saints  in  heaven. 

The  emperor  Marcus  Aur^lius  survived  the 
martyrs  of  Lyons,  only  two  years.  The  de- 
cline of  his  life  was  saddened  by  the  inhuman 
disposition  of  his  son  Commodus,  which  now 
began  to  develope  itself:  and  the  inde- 
cent joy  which  that  unnatural  prince  testified 
at  the  death  of  his  father,  seems  to  justify  the 
suspicion  of  his  having  poisoned  him. 

Aurelius  died  in  the  59th  year  of  his  age, 
and  the  19th  of  his  reign,  A.  D.  182,  Commo- 


266  HISTORY  OP  THE  CHURCH. 

dus,  though  otherwise  a  second  Nero,  was  fa- 
vourable to  the  Christians.  (1)  A  Courtezan 
by  the  name  of  Marcia,  was  the  instrument 
which  Providence  made  use  of,  to  procure 
peace  for  the  Christians,  under  a  tyrant,  who 
had  spilled  so  much  blood.  This  woman, 
notwithstanding  the  lewdness  of  her  charac- 
ter, had  a  singular  respect  for  Christianity,  and 
swayed,  at  will,  the  heart  of  Commodus. 
Though  the  tempest  darkened  round  them,  the 
faithful  daily  multiplied.  Not  only  the  com- 
mon people  were  converted  ;  the  most  illus- 
trious Romans  were  no  longer  ashamed  of  a 
crucified  God. 

The  senator  Apollonius  rendered  heroic  tes- 
timony to  the  cause  of  truth  in  the  Roman 
senate.  (2)  One  of  his  slaves  had  accused 
him  of  being  a  Christian  :  and  though  the 
slave  was  put  to  death  in  virtue  of  the  decree, 
passed  by  the  emperor  M.  Aurelius,  Pereni- 
us,  the  prefect  of  the  city,  judged  it  expedi- 
ent that  the  case  should  be  referred  to  the  de- 
cision of  the  senate.     The  illustrious  defend- 


(1)  That  he  not  only  tolerated  the  Christians,  but  enforced 
the  laws  against  their  accusers,  we  learn  from  Euseb.  lib.  ^ 
cap.  21.    (2)  Hier.  de  script.  Eccles. 


HISTORY  OP  THE  CHURCH.  267 

aut  was  permitted  to  plead  his  own  cause. 
He  composed  a  beautiful  apology,  not  only  to 
make  profession  of,  but  to  vindicate,  the  Chris- 
tian faith.  This  apology  he  pronounced  in  pre- 
sence of  the  assembled  senators.  As  he  could 
not  be  prevailed  upon  to  abjure  or  disguise  his 
sentiments,  the  senate  by  a  solemn  decree,  con- 
demned him  to  loose  his  head.     The  sentence 
was  executed  in  the  eighth  year  of  the  reign 
of  Commodus.  Another  senator,  by  name,  Ju- 
lius, suffered  under  the  same  emperor.     Du- 
ring this  reign,  Lucius,  king  of  Great  Britain, 
sent  two   deputies   to  Pope  Eleutherius  for 
missionaries.     The  Pope  despatched  Dumi- 
anus  and  Fugatius,  by  whom  Lucius  and  his 
queen  were    baptized.     At  this  period  also, 
flourished  St.  Theophilus  bishop  of  Alexan- 
dria, author  of  several  works,  highly  esteem- 
ed for  their  erudition  and  elegance.     Besides 
the  treatise  addressed  to  Autolycus,  the  only 
one  now  extant,  he  composed  commentaries 
on  the  four  principal  prophets,  and  the  four 
gospels,  with  a  refutation  of  the  errors  of  Mar- 
cion    and    Hermogenes.     Autolycus    was   a 
(1)  Gild,  de  vict.   Aurel. 


268  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

learned  pagan  :  and  much  prejudiced  again^ 
the  Christian  rehgion.  Theophilus,  who  had 
also  been  a  pagan,  wished  to  instruct,  or  silence 
him  by  this  work.  He  divided  it  into  three 
books ;  which  shew  the  follies  of  idolatry, 
while  they  establish  the  existence,  providence, 
and  infinite  perfection,  of  the  true  God. 

"  When,  he  says,  we  behold  a  vessel  sailing 
on  the  ocean  or  entering  into  port,  we  do  not 
doubt  that  it  is  guided  by  a  pilot,  though  we 
cannot  discern  him  :  so  should  we  believe, 
that  a  superior  and  infinitely  wise  being  pre- 
sides over  the  affairs,  and  regulates  the  desti- 
nies, of  the  universe,  although  this  first  mo- 
ver is  invisible  to  mortal  sight.  All  believe 
there  is  an  emperor,  though  many  do  not  see 
him  ;  for  his  laws,  his  officers,  and  his  images, 
make  him  known :  and  you  refuse  to  believe  in 
a  God,  announced  by  his  works  and  by  the 
splendid  and  multiplied  effects  of  his  power  ! 
You  are  unwilling  to  believe  what  you  cannot 
see  :  but  does  not  every  man  rest  satisfied  in 
such  belief,  in  the  most  important  concerns  of 
life  ?  What  would  the  husbandman  reap  if 
he  did  not  blindly  commit  his   grain  to  the 


History  of  the  church.  269 

earth  ?  How  could  men  cross  the  seas,  with- 
out trusting  to  a  pilot  ?  How  could  despe- 
rate maladies  be  cured,  did  not  the  patient 
subject  himself  to  the  skill  of  the  physician  ? 
What  art,  what  science  could  be  learned,  if 
we  did  not  begin  with  believing  him  who 
teaches  us  ? 

In  the  second  book,  S.Tlieophilus  relates,  and 
defends  the  history  of  the  creation  given  by 
Moses.  As  a  living  monument  of  the  primi- 
tive and  universal  practice,  he  observes  that  all 
nations  counted  the  week  after  the  manner 
of  the  Jews :  although  this  cycle  of  seven  days 
was  not  founded  on  the  revolution  of  any  of 
the  planets.  In  the  same  book,  speaking  of 
the  nature  of  the  divine  persons,  he  makes  use 
of  the  word  Trinity  ;  to  mark  the  distinction 
of  the  three  adorable  persons. 

His  third  book  eloquently  and  forcibly  re- 
futes the  calumnies  circulated  by  the  idola- 
ters, against  the  Christians.  In  the  wide  field 
opened  by  this  subject,  Theophilus  takes  the 
noblest  flights;  and  proves  triumphantly, 
that  the  prophets  and  apostles  of  Christianity 
were  superior  to  the  superstitious  mytholo- 


270  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

gists  of  paganism.  He  ended  liis  career  in 
peace  under  the  emperor  Commodus.  The 
emperor  perished  by  the  hands  of  the  cele- 
brated Marcia,  and  some  other  accompHces, 
whose  death  he  had  meditated.  Pertinax,  a 
venerable  old  man,  was  raised  to  the  throne : 
and  was  murdered  three  months  after,  by  the 
Praetorian  soldiers,  whose  licentious  manners 
he  had  attempted  to  reform. 

After  this  outrage,  they  published  that  the 
empire  was  offered  to  the  highest  bidder :  and 
the  supreme  power  was  actually  purchased 
by  Didius  Julian,  whose  title  was  confirmed 
in  the  camp,  contrary  to  the  will  of  the  peo- 
ple, and  senate.  He  soon  lost  the  dominion 
which  he  had  so  unworthily  acquired.  The 
soldiers  themselves,  disgusted  with  his  avarice, 
proclaimed  Severus,  emperor:  and  Didius  was 
accordingly  put  to  death,  by  order  of  the  se- 
nate :  the  promotion  of  Severus  was  disputed 
by  two  competitors  for  the  empire :  after  a 
long  civil  war^  he  entered  the  capital  in  tri- 
umph. 

Severus,  in  the  commencement  of  his  reign, 
was  favourable    to   the  Christians:  (1)  they 


(l)Tertull.  ad  Scap.  cap.  4. 


HISTORY  OP  THE  CHURCH.  271 

had  taken  no  share  in  the  divisions  which  con- 
vulsed the  empire  :  and  he  himself  often  be- 
came their  advocate  with  the  mutinous  peo- 
ple. 

Victor,  who  had  succeeded  St:  Eleutherius, 
was,  at  this  period,  sitting  in  the  tihair  of  Peter. 
His  pontificate,  which  commenced  in  the  year 
194,  was  distinguished  by  many  iUustrious  and 
holy  men:  Serapion  bishop  of  Antioch,  acquired 
the   highest   celebrity  by  his  writings ;  espe- 
cially by  a  treatise  against  a  gospel  falsely  at- 
tributed to   St.   Peter,    by  the    Docitae.    (1) 
These  heretics  taught  that  Christ's  body  was 
fantastic :    and   that    the     mystery    of    the 
incarnation  |iad  taken  place  only  in  appear- 
ance.    Their  gospel  contained  nothing  that 
was    not    conformable    to   the     morality    of 
the   Redeemer :    but    what    principally   ex- 
cited  the  zeal   of  Serapion  to  condemn  it, 
was  its  not  having  been  transmitted  by  a  le- 
gitimate tradition,  or  by  the  general  and  con- 
stant approbation  of  the  Christian  churches. 
To  St.  Pantaenus,  a  native  of  Sicily,   was 
confided  the  government  of  the  famous  acade- 

(1)  Euseb.  in  chron. 


272  HISTORY  OP  THE  CHURCH. 

my  of  Christian  learning,  established  in  the 
time  of  St.  Mark,  in  the  chmch  of  Alexan- 
dria. His  zeal  was  equal  to  his  erudition : 
and  by  following  the  example  of  the  apostles, 
and  propagating  the  gospel  through  Asia, 
he  acquired  the  title  of  "  Evangelist." — 
It  is  said,  that  in  India,  St.  Pantsenus  found 
the  gospel  of  St.  Matthew  in  Hebrew,  which 
the  apostle  St.  Bartholomew  had  carried  to 
that  country.  (1)  He  revived  the  faith  of  the 
Christians,  and  converted  many  infidels.  His 
school  was  conducted,  in  his  absence,  by  St. 
Clement ;  a  man  distinguished  among  the  nu- 
merous illustrious  scholars  whom  he  had 
formed.  (2)  Some  of  Clement's  works  are  still 
extant :  in  which,  though  otherwise  held  in 
the  highest  estimation,  it  is  to  be  regretted 
that  he  made  too  much  use  of  the  philosophy 
of  his  times  ;  to  the  study  of  which,  he  had  in 
his  youth  (3)  been  devoted.  The  same  erro- 
neous taste  he  kept  up  in  the  Alexandrian 
school,  into  which  it  had  been  introduced  be- 
fore him  ;  and   which  caused  too   many   of 


(1)  Euseb.  5.  hist.  10.     (2)  Idem.  6.  hist.  3.     (3)  Vid.  Bar. 
ad  ann.  196.  i.  et.  ii. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CHURCH.  273 

the  most  estimable  and  enlightened  members, 
to  deviate  from  the  simplicity  of  the  Christian 
faith.  Among  the  miiny  other  great  men  who 
edified  the  church  at  this  period,  was  St.  Nar- 
cissus, bishop  of  Jerusalem.  Some  vicious  men 
whom  this  zealous  father  attempted  to  reclaim 
from  their  disorders,  conspired  together,  and 
accused  him  of  a  shameful  sin.  Three  of 
these  impostors  confirmed  their  calumny  by 
oaths,  and  terrible  imprecations  against  them- 
selves. The  first  wished  that  fire  might  con- 
sume him  ;  the  second  devoted  himself  to  a 
distemper  of  the  most  shocking  nature  ;  and 
the  third  to  the  loss  of  his  sight,  if  they  did 
not  speak  the  truth.  Narcissus,  exhausted 
under  the  burden  of  his  episcopal  duties,  had  * 
sighed  during  many  years  after  the  sweets  of 
solitude  :  and  profited  by  this  opportunity  to 
conceal  himself  from  his  flock.  He  passed,  a 
long  time,  in  unknown  retreats,  and  left  to 
Providence  the  vindication  of  his  character. 
He  was  soon  revenged,  in  a  manner  which  he 
himself  was  far  from  wishing.  The  three  per- 
jured accusers  experienced  the  evils  which 
they  had  invoked  upon  themselves.     The  first 

VOL.  I— 18 


274  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

was  consumed  with  his  whole  family  in  his  own 
house.  The  second,  covered  from  head  to 
foot  with  ulcers,  was  devoured  by  vermin. 
The  third,  terrified  by  the  fate  of  the  two 
others,  repented,  wept  for  his  crime,  and  lost 
his  sight.   (1) 

These  exemplary  punishments  served  not  so 
much  to  prove  the  innocence  of  Narcissus,  of 
which  no  doubt  was  entertained,  as  to  aug- 
ment the  grief  of  his  flock  for  his  absence  ;  nor 
could  they  be  prevailed  upon,  'till  after  the 
most  urgent  solicitations  of  the  neighbouring 
bishops,  to  submit  to  the  administration  of 
any  other  prelate.  Towards  the  end  of  his 
life,  Narcissus  re-appeared  in  Jerusalem  :  the 
public  affection  was  as  ardent  as  ever  :  and 
notwithstanding  his  great  age  and  infirmities, 
he  was  compelled  to  resume  his  former  see. 
He  consented,  on  condition  that  Alexander,  a 
pious  bishop  of  Cappadocia  should  be  appoint- 
ed to  share  with  him  the  duties  of  his  diocess. 
His  condition  was  immediately  complied  with: 
and  this  is  the  first  instance,  in  record,  of  a  co- 


(1)  This  fact  is  recorded  by  the  gravest  authors  :  even 
Baronius  relates  it,  and  gives  for  his  authority  Eusebius  P 
hist.  8.  9. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  275 

adjutor  bishop,  as  well  as  of  the  translation  of  a 
prelate  from  one  see  to  another.  St.  Narcis- 
vSus  presided  with  Theophiliis,  bishop  of  Csesa- 
rea,  at  the  council  held  in  that  city,  on  the 
subject  of  the  paschal  celebration. 

This  famous  question  had  already  been  agi- 
tated under  the  pontificate  of  Anicetus  ;  and 
had  assumed  so  serious  an  aspect  as  to  draw 
St.  Polycarp  from  Antioch  to  Rome.  The 
Roman  church  and  many  others,  from  time 
immemorial,  had  celebrated  the  feast  of  East- 
er on  the  first  Sunday  after  the  fourteenth  day 
of  the  new  moon,  in  the  month  of  March.  The 
churches  of  Asia  Minor  on  the  contrary,  on 
the  fourteenth  day  of  the  same  moon,  on  what 
ever  day  it  should  happen  to  fall.  S.  Amce- 
tus  observed  the  former,  S.  Polycarp  the  lat- 
ter, usage  :  and  though  they  could  not  bring 
themselves  to  agree  on  this  subject,  their 
union  in  every  other  respect,  was  preserved. 
(1)  And  it  must  be  remembered,  that  the 
question  as  yet,  was  a  free  one  ;  as  the  dis- 
pute was  carried  on  by  Catholics  alone.  But 
under  the  pontificate  of  St.  Victor,  this  diflfer- 

(1)  Ex.  ap.  Euseb.  5.  hist.  23. 


^-  ■iftf" 


276  HISTORY  OF  the  church. 

ence  of  discipline  began  to  assume  the  fea- 
tures of  schism  and  heresy.     The  Montanists 
began  to  teach  that  the  paschal  festival  could 
not    l)c   celebrated    on  any  other    than  the 
fourteenth  day  of  the  moon,  because  their  pa- 
raclete had  so  commanded  it.    Blastus,  a  Ro- 
man priest,  had  formed  a  schism  in  favour  of 
the  Montanists,  and  seduced  a  great  number 
of  persons.     The  pope,  persuaded  that  there 
was  no  longer   any  room  for  indulgence,  re- 
solved to  have  recourse  to  rigourous  measures ; 
and  assembled  a  council  at   Rome  ;  and  ano- 
ther at  Csesarea;  as  we  are  informed    (1)  by 
venerable  Bede,  or  rather  by  a  fragment  of  that 
council     cited  in   his    works.      Theophilus, 
bishop  of  that  place,  and  the  holy  bishop  of  Je- 
rusalem   presided.     The  authority  of  those 
councils  regulated  the  discipline,  in  Pontus,  in 
Achaia,  and  in  Gaul. 

The  bishops  of  Asia,  (2)  with  Polycrates  of 
Ephesus  at  their  head,  refused  to  submit  to 
the  decree  of  the  council.  Polycrates,  in  a 
letter  addressed  to  St.  Victor,  evinced  a  deter- 
mination not  to  yield.     He  defended  the  tra- 

(1)  Cone.  Pal.  circ  an.  195.     (2)  Eus.  hist.  c.  23  et  29. 


HISTORY  OF  TIIK  CHURCH.  277 

dition  of  his  church,  which  he  traced  up  to  St. 
Polycarp,  and  even  to  St.  John  the  evangehst. 
He  then  continues:  "I  who  have  spent  sixty-five 
years,  in  the  service  of  the  Lord  ;  who  have 
been  united  in  communion  with  the  brethren, 
spread  through  the  whole  world,  and  who  have 
profoundly  studied  the  holy  scriptures,  am 
not  to  be  dismayed  by  menaces  :  For  they 
who  were  greater  than  we  are,  have  said,  "  we 
must  obey  God  rather  than  men."  Were  I 
to  add  a  catalogue  of  the  bishops,  which,  in 
pursuance  to  your  request  I  convened,  you 
would  be  astonished  at  their  numbers  ;  and 
all  have  given  their  approbation  to  the  letter 
addressed  to  you.  For  although  they  are 
aware  of  my  being  otherwise  so  contemptible, 
they  also  know  that  I  carry  not  these  grey 
hairs  in  vain.  And  that  I  have  lived  accord- 
ing to  the  model  of  Jesus  Christ."   (1) 

This  pompous  declaration  could  not  fail  to 
be  ill  received  by  the  pope,  who  answered 
it  with  the  severity  he  thought  it  deserved  :  for 
it  looked  like  something  more  than  mere  at- 
tachment to  an  ancient  custom.     He  refused 


(1)  Ex.  ap.  Euseb.  5.  hist.  23. 


278  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

thenceforth,  to  commiinicate  with  the  disobe»r 
dient  Asiatics  :  and  was  about  to  cut  them  off 
from  the  communion  of  the  church,  when  re- 
clamations were  sent  to  him  by  several  bi- 
shops, who,  though  their  opinions  coincided 
with  his,  disapproved  of  his  punishing  with 
such  extreme  severity,  an  attachment  to  a 
usage,  rendered  venerable  by  time. 

The  holy  and  learned  bishop  of  Lyons,  St, 
Irenaeus,  wrote  with  most  warmth,  on  this  oc- 
casion :  that  he  was  actuated  by  no  other  mo- 
tive than  that  of  peace  and  union,  cannot  be 
doubted.  (1)  In  his  letter  he  observes  that 
his  colleagues  themselves  could  not  approve 
of  his  excommunicating  whole  churches,  for  a 
custom,  which  they  had  received  from  their 
predecessors  in  the  faith  :  that  the  pontiffs 
Anicetus,  Pius  I.,  Telesphorus,  and  Sixtus, 
of  blessed  memory,  had  not  on  that  account, 
broken  the  bond  of  union  with  the  Asiatic 
bishops  :  that  disputes  would  never  end,  if  he 
pretended  to  reduce  private  usages  to  uniform- 
ity :  that  the  pontiff  himself  had  sanctioned 
certain  practices  with  regard  to  fasting  in  the 

(I)  Ibid.  cap.  25. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  279 

Gallic,  which  were  not  followed  in  the  Ro- 
man, church.  It  appears,  that  pope  Victor  felt 
and  submitted  to  the  cogency  of  these  rea~ 
sons  ;  he  was  martyred  soon  after,  in  the  year 
208 :  Zephyrinus  succeeded  him ;  and  each 
church  retained  for  a  time  its  ancient  customs. 
During  the  civil  wars,  and  for  some  time  af- 
ter them,  Severus  allowed  the  free  exercise  of 
their  religion  to  the  Christians  :  but  when 
he  saw  himself  in  quiet  possession  of  his 
throne,  he  forgot  their  former  services,  and 
published  the  most  sanguinary  edicts  :  (1)  for- 
bidding them  to  hold  their  religious  meetings 
or  to  profess  the  name  of  Christ.  For  so  sud- 
den a  chancre  no  cause  can  be  assisfued  :  un- 
less  we  suppose  that  he  was  alarmed  for  the 
safety  of  the  state,  by  the  rapid  decline  of  idol- 
atry ;  for  nearly  half  the  empire  was  already 
converted  to  Christianity.  The  pagan  philo- 
sophers and  priests,  who  had  no  idea  of  the 
supernatural  effects  of  grace,  believed  and  per- 
suaded the  emperor,  that  the  Christians  had 
an  infallible  charm,  by  which  they  lured  over 
whomsoever   they  pleased    to  their  religion. 

(1)  Tert.  apol.  cap.  26.  et  ad  Scap.  cap.  2. 


280  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

Whatever  might  have  been  the  cause,  it  is 
certain,  that  a  most  violent  persecution  broke 
out  in  the  tenth  year  of  his  reign  ;  and  raged 
with  so  nuich  fury,  that  the  faithful  began  to 
fear  that  the  time  of  Antichrist  had  arrived., 
(1)  It  commenced  in  Egypt,  and  soon  extend- 
ed itself  to  the  other  provinces.  The  cele- 
brated school  of  Alexandria  furnished  many 
distinguished  martyrs:  among  whom  were 
some  from  Egypt,  Thebais,  and  the  remot- 
est parts  of  Africa.  Clement,  the  head  of  that 
school,  following  the  injunction  of  the  gospel, 
had  fled  from  the  fury  of  the  persecution  to 
Cappadocia  :  where  he  devoted  his  time  and 
zeal  in  instructing  the  ignorant,  and  re- 
lieving the  wants  of  the  church,  whose  bishop 
was  imprisoned  for  the  faith. 

Leonides,  Origen's  father,  was  arrested  at 
Alexandria,  and  crowned  Avith  martyrdom.  (2) 

This  holy  man  had  discharged,  with  fideli- 
ty, all  the  duties  of  his  station  in  life :  and  par- 
ticularly that  of  attending  to -tjie  education  of 
his  son.  He  appeared  to  have  a  presenti- 
ment of  the  wonders  to  be  effected  by  that 

(1)  Spondan.  ad  ann.  204. 1.    (2)  Euseb.  hist.  6.#e{c. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CHURCH.  281 

*'  child  of  benediction  ;"  and  often  kissed,  with 
rehgious  respect,  his  bosom,  destined  to  be  the 
temple  of  tlie  Holy  Ghost. 

The  youthful  Origen  would  have  surren- 
dered himself  to  the  persecutors  before  the 
sacrifice  of  his  father,  had  he  not  been  pre- 
vented by  his  friends :  but  not  being  able  to 
visit  his  father  in  prison,  he  wrote  him  a  let- 
ter, which  breathes  the  most  refined  senti- 
ments of  religion  ;  conjuring  him  to  think  on- 
ly of  the  crown  that  awaited  him  in  heaven.(l) 
Care  not  for  us,  said  the  generous  youth, 
(meaning  his  brothers,)  God  will  take  care  of 
us  :  we  are  too  happy  in  having  a  martyr  for 
our  father.  Leonides  was  beheaded  ;  his 
property  confiscated ;  and  his  family  reduced 
to  extreme  indigence.  Origen  found  a  tem- 
porary asylum  in  the  house  of  a  rich  lady. 
But  to  free  himself  from  a  precarious  depend- 
ancy  upon  others,  he  opened  a  grammar 
school:  (2)  his  talents  and  learning  soon 
shone  forth  with  great  lustre  ;  and,  in  a  short 
time,  he  was  promoted  to  the  catechetical 
school  of  Alexandria.     His  disinterestedness, 


(1)  Euseb.  iv,  1  and  2.    (2)  Idem.  6.  hist.  3. 


282  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

his  genius,  and  the  charms  of  his  conversa- 
tion, attracted  round  him  a  crowd  of  admirers, 
pagan  as  well  as  Christian  :  of  whom  many  be- 
came illustrious  saints :  and  some  shed  their 
blood  for  the  faith,  in  the  persecution,  then 
raging. 

A  young  and  beautiful  female  slave,  by  name 
Potamisena,  was  one  of  the  most  illustrious 
martyrs  of  Alexandria.  Her  master,  not  suc- 
ceeding either  by  threats  or  promises  to  se- 
duce her  virtue,  accused  her  of  being  a  Chris- 
tian. The  pagan  magistrate  blushed  not  to 
persuade  the  virtuous  female,  to  yield  to  her 
master's  desires :  Potamiaena  disdained  his 
persuasions :  he  threatened  to  plunge  her 
alive  into  a  caldron  of  pitch  :  plunge  me,  she 
replied,  into  the  caldron,  and  see  if  the  God 
whom  I  adore  will  not  triumph  over  all  the  in- 
ventions of  your  cruelty.  She  was  taken,  at 
her  w  ord ;  and  immerged  so  gradually  in  the 
boiling  pitch,  that  her  torments  lasted 
three  hours.  Her  mother  Marcella,  was  also 
burned  to  death.  (1) 


(l)Ap.  Siir.  14  Deo. 


HISTORY  OP  THE  CHURCH.  288 

The  soldier  Basilides  one  of  Potamitena's 
gnards,  treated  the  holy  virgin  with  respect, 
and  defended  her  from  the  insults  of  the 
populace.  She  promised  to  intercede  for 
him  with  the  King  of  heaven.  Scarcely  had 
she  expired,  when  Basilides  confessed  the 
name  of  Jesus  Christ,  and,  after  a  few  days 
of  imprisonment,  during  which  he  was  favour- 
ed with  a  vision  of  his  holy  advocate,  he  re- 
ceived baptism  and  was  beheaded.  Many 
others  were  converted  in  the  same  manner ; 
and  by  a  similar  death  obtained  the  palm  of 
martyrdom. 

,  The  persecution  was  no  less  violent,  in  the 
other  parts  of  Africa.  It  had  commenced  two 
years  previously  to  the  edict,  by  the  cruel  dispo- 
sition of  Vitellius  Saturninus,  the  proconsul ; 
the  first  that  drew  the  sword  in  that  pro- 
vince. (1)  The  first  victims  of  his  cruelty  were 
apprehended  and  sent,  to  the  number  of  twelve, 
of  both  sexes,  toCarthage,  where  they  were  put 
to  death.  Their  acts  are  extant  and  well  au- 
thenticated :  they  inform  us  that  when  sum- 
moned before  the  tribunal  of  Saturninus,  they 

(IjVid.  Spondan.201.i. 


284  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

severally  (xint'cssed  the  religion  of  tlie  Son  of 
God :  and  having-  generously  despised  the 
promises  and  threats  of  the  pagan  magistrate, 
they  were  led  to  the  place  of  execution  ;  and 
after  returning  thanks  to  Jesus  Christ,  they 
were  decapitated.  Their  names,  as  extract- 
ed from  the  pagan  register,  and  preserved  by 
the  pious  authors  of  the  acts  of  their  martyr- 
dom, were  as  follows  :  Speratus,  Narzal,  Cit- 
tinus,  Veturius,  Felix,  Acillynus,  Lsetantius, 
Januaria,  Generosa,  Vestina,  Donatus,  and 
Secundus.  Tertullian  celebrates  their  praises 
with  enthusiasm  ;  they  have  been  particular- 
ly venerated  in  Africa ;  and  honoured  by  the 
whole  Christian  church. 

Six  others,  four  young  men,  by  name  Re- 
vocatus,  Saturninus,  Satur,  and  Secundulus, 
and  two  females  in  the  flower  of  their  youth, 
whose  names  were  Perpetua  and  Felicitas, 
were  denounced  as  Christians  in  the  same 
city.  Of  the  women,  the  former  was  of  noble 
birth  ;  and  had  an  infant  at  her  breast :  the 
latter  was  at  the  time  she  was  arrested,  far 
advanced  in  pregnancy.  The  inhuman  ty- 
rant equally  insensible  to  the  respect  due  to 


HISTORY  OP  TFIE  CHURCH.  285 

their  sex,  and  the  dehcacy  of  tJieir  situation, 
condemned  them  to  be  exposed  to  wild  beasts, 
in  the  amphitheatre,  for  the  amusemeut  of 
the  populace.  They  were  kept  in  close  con- 
finement, until  the  day  appointed  for  their 
execution.  In  the  meantime,  they  earnestly 
joined  in  prayer,  that  Feiicitas  might  be 
brought  to  bed,  before  the  day  of  combat. 
As  the  law  forbade  women  in  her  condition, 
to  be  put  to  death.  (1)  Their  prayers  were 
heard ;  (2)  she  was  safely  delivered  of  a 
daughter,  whom  she  placed  in  the  hands  of  a 
Christian  nurse. 

Perpetua  had  more  than  one  conflict  to  un- 
dergo ;  she  had  the  tender  feelings  of  a  mo- 
ther to  sacrifice  :  she  had  to  contend  with  al- 
ternate grief  and  anger  :  the  prayers  ^nd  re- 
proaches of  a  pagan  father :  she  had  conti- 
nually before  her  mind  tlie  terror  of  l)eing 
mangled  and  devoured  by  ferocious  beasts ; 
but  from  the  midst  of  earthly  tribulations,  she 


(1)  This  law  was  not  peculiar  to  Rome:  it  was  common 
to  the  Egyptians:  and  from  them  was  transmitted  to  the 
Greeks,  as  Plutarch  testifies.     De  serv.  num.  vind. 

(2)  Of  this  Bode  and  Ado  make  mention.  Vide.  Spond. 
p.  175.  V. 


28G  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

looked  up  to  heaven  and  was  comforted. 
God,  who  from  that  moment  became  the  sole 
object  of  her  hope  and  her  love,  held  forth  the 
crown  to  his  servant,  and  strengthened  her  by 
his  special  graces.  The  day  was  now  at 
hand  ;  the  jailor  summoned  the  martyrs  to 
appear :  they  joyfully  advanced  to  the  tribu- 
nal, as  to  a  place  of  triumph,  to  hear  the  final 
sentence.  At  that  moment,  the  father  of  Per- 
petua,  piercing  through  the  crowd,  with  her 
infant  in  his  arms,  fell  round  his  daughter's 
neck  exclaiming :  "  My  daughter,  have  pity 
on  this  hoary  head  :  have  pity  on  your  father, 
if  you  have  ever  found  him  worthy  of  that 
name.  If  I  have  reared  you  with  so  much 
care  and  tenderness,  and  loved  you  more  than 
all  my  other  children,  do  not  expose  me  to 
public  shame !  Or  if  you  have  no  regard  for 
me,  think  at  least  of  your  afflicted  relations : 
your  mother  ;  your  aunt ;  your  little  babe,  al- 
ready languishing  for  want  of  a  mother's  care. 
As  he  spoke  these  last  words,  says  Perpetua, 
who  herself  relates  the  affecting  tale,  he 
caught  hold  of  both  my  hands,  kissed  them, 
and  bathed  them,   with  his  tears.     He  then 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  287 

threw  himself  at  my  feet,    and  pierced  my 
heart  with  the  most  tender  cries.     I  felt  the 
more  compassion  for  him,  as  he  was  the  only 
one  of  our  family  that  continued  so  strangely 
blind  to  the  truth.     Without  suffering  my  re- 
solution to  be  shaken  by  his  tears,  I  gave  him 
the  most  expressive  marks  of  affection,  and 
ended  by  telling  him  that  our  lives  were  not 
at  our  disposal ;  and  that  God,  to  whom  every 
thing  was  subject,  would  accomplish  his  holy 
will."     Her  father  then  retired  inconsolable. 
The  judge,  continues  Perpetua,  advised  me 
to  reverence  the  grey  hairs  of  my  father,  and 
to  pity  the  tender  age,  and  the  innocence  of  my 
son.     Be  not  insensible  he  said,  to  the  cries  of 
your  unhappy  infant,  and  to  the  tears  of  your 
afflicted  father.  What  will  it  cost  you  to  throw 
a  few  grains  of  incense  on  the  fire,  in  honour 
of  the  gods  and  for  the  safety  of  our  emperor. 
Never,  I  replied  ;  no  human  inducement  shall 
ever    separate   me    froni  the  Lord,    and    the 
society  of  the  saints.     You  are  a  Christian 
then,  he  rejoined.     Yes,  I  again  replied,  I  am. 
My  companions  made  the   same  confession: 
and  we  were  all  condemned  to  be  devoured 


288  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

by  wild  beasts.  St.  Perpetua  tlien  relates 
two  visions,  which  animated  her  to  consum- 
mate her  sacrifice  with  courage.  (1)  The 
martyr  Satur,  likewise  mentions  in  his  own 
acts,  the  history  of  a  vision  with  which  he  him- 
self was  favoured. 

The  day  of  combat  at  length  arrived :  and 
the  martyrs,  with  the  exception  of  Secundu- 
his,  who  had  died  in  prison,  went  joyfully  from 
their  dungeon  to  the  amphitheatre.  When 
they  reached  the  gate,  the  sentinels  offered 
them  superstitious  dresses  :  to  the  men  a  red 
mantle  usually  worn  by  the  priests  of  Saturn  : 
to  the  women,  a  white  fillet  sacred  to  Ceres, 
to  be  tied  round  their  heads  :  they  scornfully 
rejected  these  trappings  of  idolatry  ;  and  the 
tribune  permitted  tiiem  to  [)ass  on  in  their 
common  dress.  Difierent  kinds  of  wild  ani- 
mals were  let  loose  uj)on  the  men.  Perpetua 
and  Felicitas  were  at  first  stripped  of  all  their 
clothes,  but  the  peopte  cried  out  to  have  them 
covered.  They  were  then  shut  up  in  a  net 
and  thrown  to  be  lacerated  by  a   wild  cow. 


(1)  Tertiill  de  anima  S.  S.     S.  Aug.  de  anim.  18.  et  lib.  8. 
c.  9.  Id.  de  temp.  barb.  c.  10.  c. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  289 

From  this  animal,  they  received  no  mortal  in- 
jury ;  but  they  sunk  under  the  repeated 
wounds  inflicted  by  the  inexperienced  gladia- 
tors. The  pains  which  she  suffered  on  this 
occasion  caused  some  agitation  in  the  delicate 
Perpetua,  but  she  soon  resumed  her  wonted 
tranquillity,and  showing  the  executioner  where 
to  strike,  she  received  the  final  blow  and  crown- 
ed her  heroic  sufferings  by  a  glorious  death. 
In  Gaul  the  persecution  raged  with  peculiar 
fury.  Severus,  perceiving  that  the  number 
of  Christians  had  increased,  in  such  a  manner, 
at  Lyons,  as  to  threaten  the  destruction  of 
idolatry  in  that  city,  ordered  some  of  his  troops 
to  surround  the  town,  while  the  rest  broke  in- 
to the  houses,  and  massacred,  indiscriminate- 
ly, all  that  professed  the  Christian  faith.  The 
streets  were  deluged  with  blood:  for  according 
to  an  inscription  on  an  ancient  monument  still 
extant,  nineteen  hundred,  exclusive  of  women 
and  children,  perished  on  this  occasion.  The 
venerable  bishop,  Irenaeus,  (1)  was  brought  be- 
fore the  tyrant,  who  condemned  him  to  death, 
and  boasted  that  he  had,  at  once,  despatched 

(1)  Euseb.  5.  20. 

VOL.  I, —  IP 


290  HISTORY  or  THE  CHURCH* 

the  shepherd  and  the  flock.  (1)  A  holy  priest 
named  Zacharias,  who  escaped  the  general 
carnage,  administered  the  rights  of  sepnhnre 
to  the  body  of  the  martyr,  and  succeeded  hiiii 
in  the  episcopal  see  of  Lyons. 

In  the  capital  of  the  empire,  the  Christians 
suifered  much,  from  the  avarice  and  impiety  of 
Plautian.  This  man,  by  birth  a  plebian,  but 
immensely  rich,  (2)  had  married  his  daugh- 
ter to  the  son  of  Severus.  The  emperor,  hav- 
ing marched  into  the  East  on  an  expedition 
against  the  Parthians,  appointed  Plautian  ad- 
ministrator of  affairs,  during  his  absence. 
Raised  to  such  an  elevation,  he  soon  forgot 
the  meanness  of  his  birth:  and  resolved  to  im- 
prove the  auspicious  opportunity  of  aggrandiz- 
ing his  fortune  by  rapine,  violence,  and  confis- 
cation ;  on  the  ground  that  the  Christians 
rendered  not  due  honour  to  the  emperor.  He 
condemned  as  many  as  were  unable,  or  un- 
willing to  redeem  their  lives  by  money,  to  suf- 
fer a  cruel  death.  The  ancient  calumnies,  so 
often,  and  so  forcibly  refuted,  were  now  reviv- 
ed :  and  to  bear   the  name  of  Christian  was 


(1)  Martyr.  Rom.  21  Jul.     (2)  Dio  in  Sever. 


HISTORY    OP    THE    CHURCH.  291 

made  a  capital  crime.  Of  the  faithful,  some 
were  fastened  to  crosses  :  others  were  thrown 
as  food  to  wild  beasts.  To  be  condemned  to 
servitude  or  to  the  mines,  was  considered  as 
an  act  of  clemency.  Rome  streamed  with 
blood ;  the  ordinary  executioners  were  una- 
ble to  dispatch  the  accumulated  victims  :  old 
age  received  no  indulgence,  and  the  modest 
virgin  was  condemned  to  public  prostitution. 
When  the  cause  of  Christianity  was  thus  at- 
tacked by  calumny  and  persecution,  the  Al- 
mighty, in  his  mercy,  raised  up  a  powerful 
advocattc  in  he  person  of  Tertullian,  a  priest  of 
Carthage.  (1)  He  was  born  a  pagan:  and  before 
his  conversion  to  Christianity,  as  he  himself  in- 
forms us,  indulged  in  the  vices  and  disorders 
to  which  the  African  youths  were  addicted. 
He  was  deeply  skilled  in  Grecian  literature, 
and  jurisprudence :  audit  is  also  observable 
in  his  writings,  how  carefully  he  had  studied  the 
works  of  St.  Justin,  and  St.  Irenaeus.  The 
most  celebrated  of  his  writings  is  his  Apolo- 
getic. He  begins  it,  by  complaining  that  the 
Christians  were  condemned  to   the  severest 

(1)  Ther.  de  scrip,  eccles.  in  Tertull. 


292  HISTORY  OP  THE  CHURCH. 

torments,  without  being  permitted  to  speak 
in  their  own  defence  ;  a  privilege  granted  to 
the  most  criminal  malefactors.  To  vindicate 
them  for  not  adoring  the  gods  of  the  empire, 
he  exposes  the  base  origin  of  the  pagan  dei- 
ties; the  absurdity  of  their  worship;  the  inde- 
cency of  their  ceremonies  ;  and,  in  a  flow  of 
brilliant  eloquence,  expatiates  on  the  holy  and 
sublime  prerogatives  of  the  Christian  dispen- 
sation. 

The  object  of  the  Christian  worship,  says 
the  learned  apologist,  is  one  only  God,  whose 
power,  by  a  single  word,  created  the  universe 
out  of  nothing  :  whose  wisdom  has  arranged 
it  in  its  beautiful  order,  and  whose  providence 
preserves,  and  governs  it,  through  all  its  parts. 
The  earth,  the  sea,  the  planets,  and  the  fir- 
mament announce  the  glory,  the  wisdom  and 
the  power  of  this  Supreme  Creator.  He  is  the 
God,  who,  giving  the  most  authentic  testimo- 
ny of  himself  by  word  and  work,  has  inspired 
the  ancient  prophets  to  foretel  the  mysteries 
of  future  times.  The  authenticity  of  their 
writings  is  unquestionable  :  and  therefore  ac- 
knowledged even  by  the  Jews,  our  enemies. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  29S> 

The  antiquity  of  these  writings  cannot  be  dis- 
puted :  for  Moses,  the  first  of  the  inspired 
penmen,  Hved  long  before  there  was  any  men- 
tion of  Greek  or  Roman  authors.  The  ve- 
racity of  their  writings  is  incontestable  :  for, 
the  predictions,  verified  by  events  which  no 
human  mind  could  have  foreseen,  attests  the 
divinity  of  the  inspiration.  One  of  these  re- 
markable events,  is  the  catastrophe  which  we 
have  seen  befall  the  Jewish  nation,  once  the 
cherished  people  of  the  most  high  God.  Their 
city  is  in  ruins,  and  themselves,  stripped  of 
their  national  existence  by  the  Romans,  are 
driven,  like  herds  of  slaves  from  their  native 
soil :  they  are  immersed  in  deep,  and  lasting 
misery ;  they  wander  through  the  world  without 
laws,  without  protection,  without  an  altar, 
and  without  sacrifice.  The  same  divine  ora- 
cles that  foretold  the  dispersion  of  the  Jews, 
indicate,  at  the  same  time,  a  more  faithful  race 
of  believers,  whom  God  had  decreed  to  gather 
from  all  nations,  and  to  give  the  inheritance 
of  those  blessings,  which  the  Jewish  nation 
had  ungratefully  rejected.  These  believers 
are  the  converted  gentiles :  who,  obedient  to 


294  HISTORY    OF    THE    CHURCH. 

the  voice  of  the  hving  God,  forsake  their  idols, 
and  profess  the  faith  of  Jesus  Christ,  the  foun- 
der of  the  Christian  reUgion.  The  mention 
of  Jesus  Christ  gives  the  eloquent  apologist 
an  opportunity  of  informing  the  heathen  read- 
er of  the  nature  of  the  Messiah  :  he  speaks  of 
his  eternal  existence,  and  his  having  assumed 
human  flesh,  in  the  womb  of  a  virgin,  as  the 
prophet  Isaiah  had  announced  seven  hundred 
years  before  the  event  took  place.  Jerusa- 
lem, says  he,  and  all  Judea  witnessed  the  hu- 
manity of  the  Son  of  God;  his  divinity  is  in- 
vincibly proved  by  his  miracles,  and  his  resur- 
rection from  the  tomb.  The  account  of  all  the 
circumstances  of  his  death,  addressed  by  Pon- 
tius Pilate  to  Tiberius,  have  been  deposited 
in  the  Roman  archives  :  and  Tiberius  would 
have  professed  his  belief  in  the  divinity,  and 
religion  of  Jesus  Christ,  if  that  profession  could 
have  been  reconciled  with  his  temporal  inte- 
rest. 

Having  established  the  divine  origin  of 
Christianity,  Tertullian  refutes  the  slanders 
propagated  by  the  idolaters  against  his  Chris- 
tian brethren.     He  alleges  the  respectability 


HISTORY    OP    THE  CHURCH.  295 

of  their  numbers  in  the  city,  in  the  towns,  in 
the  army,  in  the  navy,  and  in  the  very  senate 
of  Rome.  He  solemnly  appeals  to  the  public: 
and  defies  them  to  prove  a  single  criminal 
charge  against  the  fidelity  of  the  Christians  to 
their  lawful  sovereign;  their  peaceful  demean- 
or in  society ;  and  the  morality  of  their  con- 
duct in  private  life.  He  then  shews  the  in- 
justice of  persecuting  such  men,  merely  on  the 
ground  of  their  religion. 

Such  is  an  imperfect  analysis  of  that  long  and 
beautiful  apology  ;  superior  to  any  thing  that 
had  appeared,  on  the  same  subject,  during  the 
two  first  centuries  of  the  church.  The  violence 
of  the  tyrant  relented  soon  after  ;  whether  or 
not  in  consequence  of  the  apology,  it  is  impos- 
sible to  determine:  happy  for  the  author  had  he 
persevered  in  the  same  principles,  which  he 
so  strongly  and  eloquently  enforced.  (1)  But 
with  his  talents  and  his  virtues,  Tertullian  did 
not  possess  humility:  his  severe  and  morose 
disposition  led  him  into  a  system  of  rigour, 
repugnant  to  the  gospel :  (2)  and  betrayed 
him  into  the  errors  of  the  Montanists  :   (8)  he 

(1)  Ap.  Amb.  in  1.  Cor.  13.     (2)  Hier.  de  Script,  eccles.  in 
Tertull.    (3)  See  Baron,  ad  ann.  201.  iv. 


296  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

maintained,  with  those  heretics,  that  second 
marriages  were  unlawful  :  and  that  sinners, 
who  had  fallen  into  certain  grievous  faults 
should  be  denied  the  grace  and  privilege  of 
penance.  These  errors  had  been  condemn- 
ed by  St.  Zephyrinus :  and  the  justness  of  the 
condemnation  was  universally  admitted  by  the 
Christian  bishops,  in  communion  with  the  ho- 
ly see.  Tertullian,  unacquainted  with  the 
first  virtue  of  the  gospel,  felt  himself  involved 
in  the  censure  :  roused  to  indignation  by  the 
charitable  tenderness  which  they  evinced  in 
his  behalf,  he  grew  violent  and  refractory : 
and,  in  dark  resentment,  embraced  the  here- 
sy, which  maintained  the  contrary  opinion. 
He  is  thought  to  have  died  in  his  errors  : 
a  melancholy  instance  of  the  fatal  effects  of 
pride. 

The  hand  of  God  fell  heavily  on  the  perse- 
cutors of  his  church  :  Plautian,  convicted  of 
having  aspired  to  the  empire,  and  treacher- 
ously designed  the  murder  of  the  emperor, 
was  stabbed  by  Caracalla,  son  of  the  emperor 
Severus.   (I)     The  emperor  himself,  having 

(1)  Herod,  lib.  3. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  297 

undertaken  an  expedition  into  Britain  ac- 
companied by  his  sons  Caracalla  and  Geta, 
soon  forced  the  Caledonians  to  sue  for  peace. 
Severus  advanced,  on  horseback,  between 
the  two  armies,  and  was  preparing  to  ratify 
the  conditions,  when  Caracalla,  who  was 
riding  by  his  side,  checking  in  his  horse,  drew 
and  raised  his  sword  to  strike  the  emperor, 
his  father.  A  cry  of  alarm  was  instantly  rais- 
ed. The  disconcerted  parricide  was  unable 
to  perpetrate  his  crime.  In  mournful  silence, 
he  returned  his  sword  to  the  scabbard,  while 
a  look  of  embarrassment  and  confusion  gave 
evidence  of  his  guilt.  The  heart-broken  Se- 
verus, dissembled  his  anguish,  and  preserved 
an  appearance  of  tranquillity  until  evening. 
Having  retired  to  bed,  he  called  to  his  cham- 
ber his  son,  with  the  praetorian  prefect,  and 
presenting  him  a  sword,  "  my  son,"  he  said, 
"  if  you  are  weary  of  a  father's  life,  either 
pierce  me  yourself  with  this  sword,  or  com- 
mand the  prefect  to  give  the  fatal  stroke.  He 
perhaps  will  spare  you  the  horror  of  the  deed." 
Caracalla  did  neither:  but  the  emperor  after 


298  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

lingering  a  few  days,   died  of  grief   (1)   at 
York. 

Caracalla  and  Geta  being  acknowledged 
emperors,  by  the  army,  manifested  a  mutual 
hatred  for  each  other,  even  before  they  had 
arrived  in  Italy.  On  their  return,  Caracalla, 
affecting  a  wish  to  be  reconciled  to  his  brother, 
requested  queen  Julia  to  invite  them  both  to 
her  apartment.  As  soon  as  Geta  entered, 
Caracalla,  accompanied  by  a  band  of  ruffians, 
rushed  in,  and  slew  him,  in  his  mother's  arms. 
Julia  herself  was  wounded,  and  sprinkled 
with  the  blood  of  her  murdered  son.  Such 
was  the  emperor,  to  whose  mercy  the  Roman 
empire,  and  the  defenceless  Christians  who 
already  filled  the  provinces,  were  committed. 
But  the  blood  of  the  martyrs  was  the  seed  of 
Christianity :  and  the  church,  supported  by 
her  divine  spouse,  came  forth  more  bright  and 
triumphant,  from  every  persecution. 

(1)  Herod,  lib  4. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


bmperors. 

Macrinus. 

Heliogabalus. 

Alexander. 

Maximinus. 

Maximus  and  Balbinus. 

GORDIAN. 

Philip. 
Decius. 


POPES. 

St.  Zephybinus,  continued. 

St.  Callixtus. 

St.  Urban. 

St.  Pontian. 

St.  Anterus. 

St.  Fabian. 


From  the  fifth  persecution,  anno  211,  to  the 
JVovatlan  schism.     Anno  251. 

Under  the  pontificate  of  Zephyrinus, 
flourished  Miniitius  Fehx,  a  Roman  counsel- 
lor. (1)  That  celebrated  man  was  warmly  at- 
tached to  a  certain  Octavius,  who,  like  him- 
self, had  been  converted  from  the  errors  of 
paganism.  Before  their  conversion,  they  had 
been  inseparable  friends  :  during  their  child- 
hood they  had  been  bosom  confidants.     After 


(1)  Hier.  de  Script,  Eccles.  in  Minut. 


300  HISTORY  OP  THE  CHURCH. 

a  long  absence  from  each  other,  Octavius  re- 
turned to  Rome,  wlien  FeHx  had  least 
expectation  of  meeting  him.  This  happened 
at  that  season,  when  gentlemen  engaged  in 
the  pursuits  of  the  bar,  were  accustomed  to 
leave  the  city  to  unbend  their  minds,  and  re- 
pose from  their  forensic  labours.  Felix  quit- 
ted Rome  with  Octavius,  and  another  of  his 
friends  called  Csecilius,  who  still  adhered  to 
paganism :  they  retired  to  Ostia.  One  day 
as  they  were  musing  together  on  the  sea 
shore,  Caecilius  perceived  an  idol  of  Serapis, 
and  immediately,  in  testimony  of  his  adora- 
tion, applied  his  hand  to  his  mouth.  "  Is  it 
possible,"  exclaimed  Octavius,  addressing  him- 
self to  Minutius,  "  that  so  wise  a  man  and  en- 
lightened a  scholar  can  remain  benighted  in 
error."  He  said  no  more :  and  they  con- 
tinued their  walk. 

Csecilius,  from  that  moment,  fell  into  a  pro- 
found reverie,  and  appeared  extremely  deject- 
ed. Felix  enquired  the  cause :  he  acknow- 
ledged that  he  had  been  struck  by  the  lan- 
guage of  Octavius.  It  was  then  proposed  to 
investigate  the  important  question  of  religion  : 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  301 

which  being  assented  to,  they  sat  down  upon 
the  banks  of  the  sea,  with  Fehx  in  the  mid- 
dle, as  umpire.  Caecihus  spoke  first;  inveigh- 
ed, with  the  wonted  prejudices  of  the  times, 
against  Christianity  :  Octavius  never  once  in- 
terrupted the  chain  of  his  invective  :  but  after 
he  had  conchided,  refuted  every  imputation 
with  equal  mildness  and  force,  and  dilated 
with  peculiar  emphasis,  on  the  maxims  which 
the  gospel  inculcates.  He  supported  his  as- 
sertions with  solid  proofs ;  to  authority,  he 
added  the  more  convincing  argument  of  ex- 
ample :  and  turned  upon  the  pagan  those 
very  weapons,  which  he  had  attempted  to 
wield  against  the  truth.  Minutius,  whose 
duty  it  was  to  pronounce  on  the  merits  of  the 
controversy,  applauded  the  reasoning  of  Oc- 
tavius. Cascilius  was  defeated  :  and  feeling 
the  grace  of  God,  "  We  have  both  triumphed, 
he  suddenly  cried :  Octavius  over  me,  and  1 
over  the  spirit  of  error.  I  am  a  Christian ! 
This  generous  candour  was  crowned  with 
perseverance.  Csecilius  became  a  zealous 
Christian,  and  was  of  signal  service  to  the 
faith  which  he  embraced.     To  his  exertions 


80^  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

the  church  is  indcl)ted  for  the  conversion  of 
St.  Cyprian.   (1) 

Caius,  a  priest  of  the  Roman  church,  at  the 
same  time,  had  a  pubhc  conference  with 
Proclus,  a  celebrated  advocate  of  Montanism : 
the  fame  of  whose  learning  and  wisdom  con- 
tributed, in  a  great  degree,  to  dazzle  and  se- 
duce the  unfortunate  Tertullian.  Caius 
brou«:ht  forward  irrefutable  testimonies 
against  the  errors  of  that  sect:  pope  Ze- 
phyrinus  did  not  any  longer  hesitate  to  ex- 
communicate them.  A  short  time  after,  this 
pontiff  died,  having  sat  seventeen  years :  and 
was  succeeded  by  Calixtus,  who  occupied  the 
chair  five  years. 

Under  his  pontificate,  flourished  Julius 
Africanus,  one  of  the  most  learned  Christians 
of  that  age :  (2)  he  was,  if  we  credit  Suidas, 
a  native  of  Nicopolis,  in  Palestine.  He  com- 
posed a  chronological  work,  of  which  the  ob- 
ject was  to  prove  the  antiquity  of  the  true  re- 


(1)  Vehemens  me  conjectura  adducit,  says  Baronius,  ut  ex- 
istimem  Caecilium  ilium  insignem  eruditione  virum  Cypriani 
Carthageniensis  magistrum  a  quo  honoris  causa  Caecilii  no- 
men  accepit. 

(2)  Euseb.  in  chron. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CHURCH.  303 

liffion.  He  was  the  first  clironoloo^ist  that 
ever  flourished  in  the  Christian  church.  His 
celebrated  work  has  not  come  down  to  us ; 
at  least,  under  the  name  of  its  illustrious 
author.  Julius  likewise  addressed  a  letter 
to  Aristides,  with  the  view  to  reconcile  the 
apparent  contradictions  of  the  genealogy  of 
Jesus  Christ,  by  St.  Matthew  and  St  Luke. 
The  writings  of  this  great  man  were  highly 
valued  and  esteemed  by  the  ancient  doctors : 
St.  Jerome,  in  partfcular,  panegyrizes  them, 
as  replenished  with  erudition ;  adorned  with 
philosophy  ;  and  enlightened  with  the  science 
of  the  sacred  scriptures. 

Caracalla,  by  a  violent  death,  lost  the  em- 
pire and  his  life,  on  the  eighth  of  April,  A.  D. 
219.  Macrinus,  one  of  the  prsetorian  pre- 
fects, dreading  the  caprice  and  cruelty  of  so 
lawless  a  master,  resolved  to  cut  him  off. 
He  jjained  over  a  centurion  to  assassinate  him. 
After  two  days  of  trouble  and  ferment,  the  au- 
thor of  this  crime  succeeded  in  being  proclaim- 
ed emperor.  (1)  But  he  abandoned  himself  to 
pleasure  and  drunkenness,  and  their  insepa- 

(1)  Lamprid.  inDiadum.  Capitol,  in  Macrin, 


304  HISTORY  OP  THE  CHURCH. 

rable   attendant,  inactivity.     Instead  of  pro- 
ceeding to  Rome,  he    remained  at   Antiocli, 
buried  in  Asiatic  voluptuousness,  which  made 
him  contemptible  in  the  eyes  of  the  soldiery : 
and  by  an  ill-timed  severity,  which  he  did  not 
know  how  to  enforce,  he    rendered  himself 
universally  detested.    Msesa,  a  spirited  and  en- 
terprising woman,  sister  to  the  late  empress, 
deemed  this  the  proper  moment  to  vindicate 
the  death  of  her  nephew  Caracalla.     Macri- 
nus,  dreading  her  power,  Banished  her  to  Eme- 
sa,  the  place  of  her  birth,  whither  she  con- 
ducted one  of  her  grandsons,  a  prince  then 
but  fourteen  years  of  age ;  but  of  a  stature  far 
superior   to  his  years,  and  a  person,  which 
none  could  behold,  without  feeling  a  sympathy 
for  his  fate.     The  inhabitants  of  Emesa  im- 
mediately created  him  pontiff  of  their  temple, 
dedicated  to  the  sun,  under  the  name  of  Ela- 
gabalus,  from  which  circumstance,  the  young 
prince  derived  the   name  of    Heliogabalus. 
They  invested  him,  not  without  some  design, 
with  a   purple   garment,    embroidered  with 
gold,  and  with  a  crown  sparkling  with  pre- 
cious stones.     His  pontifical   dignity  threw  a 


HISTORY    OP    THE    CHURCH.  305 

colouring  over  their  intentions.  So  great  was 
the  elegance  with  which  he  discharged  his 
functions,  and  the  luxury  with  which  he  ac- 
companied the  bacchanal  dances,  that  he  ex- 
cited the  admiration  of  the  people,  and  won 
the  applause  of  the  soldiers.  The  latter  aban- 
doned the  camp,  which  was  situated  near  the 
city  of  Emesa,  to  witness  the  magnificence  of 
Heliogabalus :  the  opportunity  of  inspiring 
them  with  the  idea  of  raising  him  to 
the  throne,  seemed  favourable  to  his  am- 
bitious grandmother :  all  were  disgusted 
with  Macrinus  :  and  ready  to  sacrifice  him 
to  their  caprice  :  being  seconded  by  the  prin- 
cipal oflicers,  Maesa  left  tlie  city  about  sun- 
set, and  retired  with  all  her  family,  to  the 
camp.  Heliogabalus  was  robed  in  the  gar- 
ment which  Caracalla  had  often  worn.  By 
the  troops  he  was  received  with  shouts  of  ac- 
clamation, and  declared  emperor  on  the  spot. 
Msesa  bestowed  vast  donatives  from  the  trea- 
sures, amassed  in  the  preceeding  reigns  ;  the 
garrisons  of  the  neighbouring  cities  ran  to 
participate  in  the  distribution  :  and  the  forces 
of  Emesa  became  very  strong,  and  able  to  con- 

voL.  I. — 20 


306  HISTORY  or  THE  feHUilCH. 

tend,  if  necessary,  for  their  new  master.  But 
far  from  making  any  opposition,  the  rest  of  the 
army  deserted  the  cause  of  Macrinus;  who  was 
put  to  death,  after  a  reign  of  fourteen  monllis. 
It  was  soon  perceived  that  the  new  emperor 
was  more  fit  to  act  as  the  high  priest  of  a  vo- 
luptuous rehgion,  than  to  wield  the  Roman 
sceptre.  By  his  vices  and  superstition,  he  soon 
rendered  himself  more  despicable  than  his 
predecessor :  he  removed  from  Emesa  to 
Rome  the  flint  which  he  pretended  had  fall- 
en from  heaven :  to  this  absurd  deity  he 
made  the  gods  of  the  empire  subservient : 
and  erected  to  his  honour  a  magnificent  tem- 
ple on  the  Palatine  mount. 

Cruelty,  the  predominant  passion  of  his  na- 
ture, soon  began  to  make  its  a(»pearance. 
Maesa  discovered  it,  and  trembled  :  to  avoid 
the  consequences  which  she  anticipated,  she 
persuaded  him  to  adopt  Alexian,  son  of  her 
daughter  Mamaea.  She  succeeded  :  changed 
the  name  of  Alexian  into  Alexander,  and 
caused  him  to  be  created  Caesar.  But  the 
emperor  soon  repented  this  measure.  Alex- 
ander was  adorned  with   dispositions  which 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  307 

could  not  but  excite  the  jealousy  of  an  unde- 
serving rival.  Heliogabalus  had  recourse  to 
various  artifices  to  rid  himself  of  Alexander, 
and  at  length  ordered  him  to  be  assassinated  a 
a  year  after  he  had  been  created  Caesar.  But 
the  command  was  not  executed  :  the  emperor 
himself  fell  a  victim  to  the  resentment  of  the 
soldiery  :  they  slew  him  after  a  reign  of  three 
years  and  nine  months,  and  cast  his  body  into 
the  Tyber.  On  the  same  day,  Alexander  re- 
ceived the  homage  of  the  senate,  soldiers  and 
people.  (1)  He  was  then  but  fourteen  years 
old.  Mamaea,  the  emperor's  mother,  was  a 
friend  to  the  Christians.  The  young  emperor 
himself  was  singularly  struck  with  the  evange- 
lical maxim  which  forbids  us  to  treat  another 
otherwise,  than  we  would  wish  to  be  treated. 
(2)  He  ordered  it  to  be  engraven  in  frequented 
places,  and  in  his  palace :  and  when  he  felt 
himself  obliged  to  inflict  punishment,  he 
caused  the  sentence  to  be  announced  by  the 
public  crier.  He  was  scrupulously  exact  in 
choosing  governors  of  provinces,  and  other  im- 
portant officers.     Born  with  virtuous  ijiclina- 

(1)  Lamprid.  in  Alex.     (2)  Idem.  ibid. 


308  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

tions,  he  felt  a  natural  propensity  to  venerate 
the  power  of  the  Deity  :  but  had  not  the  dis- 
cernment to  distinguish  the  true  science  of 
religion  from  the  vain  observations  of  astrolo- 
gers and  augurs.  He  had  a  private  temple,  fill- 
ed with  the  statues  of  virtuous  emperors,  and 
personages  renowned  for  their  piety  :  but  he 
confounded   together  Abraham  and  Orpheus, 
Jesus  Christ  and  Apollonius  Tyanaeus.    Ma- 
maea's  idea  of  religion  was  (1)  more  enlighten- 
ed: it  has  been  affirmed,  that  on  hearing  from 
Origen  of  the  miracles  of  Jesus  Christ  and  the 
maxims  of  the  gospel,  she  became  a  Christian  : 
it  is  certain,  that  she  despatched  from  Anti- 
och,  the  seat  of  the  court,  a  body  of  soldiers  to 
Alexandria,  to  conduct  Origen  to  her  palace : 
and   it  is  moreover  certain,    that  the  Roman 
court  was  never  so  favourably  inclined  towards 
the  Christian  religion  as  under  the  present 
reign.  Origen,  at  this  period,  stood  on  the  pin- 
nacle of  fame.     He  was  distinguished  by  eve- 
ry science,  and   adorned   with  every   virtue. 
The  number  of  prelates  whom  he  had  formed, 
and  whom  the  discretion  of  the  church  had 
elevated  to  the  highest  distinctions,  appeared 
(l)Eus.  iv.  31. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CHURCH.  309 

already  incalculable.  Of  his  disciples  many 
had  suffered  martyrdom  in  the  persecution  of 
Severus.  He  experienced  no  greater  conso- 
lation, than  when  he  saw  arrested  for  their  re- 
ligion, those  whom  he  had  formed  to  know- 
ledge and  virtue.  He  visited  them  in  their 
chains  ;  assisted  at  their  trials  ;  accompanied 
them  to  the  places  of  execution  ;  encouraged 
them  by  his  presence,  and  when  necessary,  by 
the  most  animated  persuasion.  In  conse- 
sequence  of  his  zeal,  he  was  obliged  to  fly  from 
the  city  of  Alexandria  ;  wandered  from  pro- 
vince to  province ;  was  several  times  appre- 
hended, and  even  put  to  the  torture. 

His  ideas  of  chastity  he  carried  to  such  an 
extreme,  that  not  content  with  preserving  it 
from  any  thing  that  might  sully  its  purity,  he 
resolved  to  ensure  himself  against  the  dan- 
gers of  concupiscence  :  he  interpreted  to  the 
letter  that  passage  of  the  holy  scriptures 
which  speaks  of  those  who  make  themselves 
eunuchs  for  the  kingdom  of  heaven;  and,  with, 
his  own  hands  put  the  mystic  counsel  into  ex- 
ecution.  (1)     The  fact  reached  the  ears  of 

(1)  Euseb.  6.  hist.  7. 


310  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

Demetrius  his  bislioj),  who  rebuked  him  for 
his  imprudence,  hut  hoped  that  the  rectitude 
of  his  intentions  would  atone  for  tlie  indiscre- 
tion of  the  deed.  In  the  forty-fifth  year  of 
his  age  he  was  ordained  priest  in  Palestine,  by 
Theodistus  of  Csesarea,  and  Alexander  of  Je- 
rusalem. 

He  conferred  on  the  schools  a  celebrity, 
which  before  his  days,  they  never  had  attain- 
ed. Blessed  with  universal  talents,  and  skilled 
in  every  department  of  science,  he  taught  the 
belles-lettres  and  philosophy,  whilst  he  ex- 
plained the  sacred  writings  :  and  attracted,  by 
the  charms  of  his  eloquence,  multitudes  of  in- 
fidels, whom  he  then  had  a  favourable 
opportunity  of  disabusing  of  their  prejudices 
against  Christianity.  So  great  was  the  con- 
course that  attended  his  lectures,  that  unable 
to  do  them  all  equal  justice,  he  was  obhged  to 
divide  the  honours  and  the  labour,  with  his  par- 
ticular friend  Heraclas.  To  him,  he  intrust- 
ed the  care  of  the  whole  school,  when  he  re- 
tired from  Alexandria:  of  which  city  Heraclas 
was  afterwards  created  bishop. 


HISTORY    OP    THE  CHURCH.  311 

It  was  said,  that  there  was  not  a  good  work 
to  be  done  in  the  church,  (at  least  in  the  oriental 
church)  for  which  this  celebrated  doctor  was 
not  competent.  Beryllus,  bishop  of  Bostra, 
who,  for  some  time,  had  governed  his  diocess 
with  edification,  and  acquired  a  name  by  some 
learned  productions,  had  fallen  into  heresy. 
He  expressed  his  ideas  on  (1)  the  subject  of 
the  incarnation  of  the  Word,  in  terms  equally 
dangerous  and  novel ;  over  which  however  he 
threw  a  veil  of  obscurity :  but  the  substance 
of  his  doctrine  was,  that  Jesus  Christ  be- 
came God  when  he  was  born  of  the  vir- 
gin :  and  that  he  was  God  only,  inasmuch  as 
the  Father  resided  in  his  person.  His  system 
destroyed,  at  once,  the  Trinity  of  the  God- 
head, and  the  Divinity  of  Christ.  Many 
zealous  prelates  met  in  council  to  prevent  the 
evil  consequences,  of  which  this  scandalous 
doctrine  might  be  productive  :  they  reasoned 
with  Beryllus,  but  could  not  bring  him  to  a 
sense  of  his  duty.  Origen  was  called  for:  he 
judged  it  more  prudent  to  have  a  private  in- 
terview with  the  unfortunate  t>ishop  and  sound 

(1)  Eus.  vi.  33  Id.  6.  14.26. 


312  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

the  depth  of  the  wound,  before  applying  a 
remedy.  By  this  means  he  discovered,  that 
it  was  not  a  controversy  about  expressions 
merely,  hazarded  witliout  any  vicious  inten- 
tion ;  but  that  the  author  really  held  and  de- 
fended the  erroneous  doctrine,  contained  in 
his  writings.  Origen  not  only  refuted  the  doc- 
trine, but  seasoned  his  argument  with  so  much 
temperance  and  charity,  that  he  forced  him 
to  acknowledge  the  truth,  and  make  an  open 
recantation  of  his  errors.  A  few  years  after, 
another  council  was  convened  in  Arabia, 
against  a  set  of  heretics  called  Arabs,  who  held 
that  the  soul  dies,  and  revives  with  the  body. 
About  the  same  time,  also,  and  in  the  same 
country,  appeared  the  Valesian  heretics ;  the 
followers  of  Valesius,  an  Arabian  philosopher. 
(1)  They  considered  the  liberty  of  man,  in- 
compatible with  concupiscence. 

Notwithstanding  the  imprudence  of  his 
youthful  fervour,  Origen  declared  against  these 
erroneous  maxims,  and  opposed  them  with 
great  success.  But  it  was  not  only  his  pro- 
found learning   that  achieved  such  glorious 

(1)  Epiph.  haer.  58.     Aug.  de  hcer.  c.  37. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  313 

conquests  ;  his  mildness,  modesty,  and  disin- 
terestedness were  so  fascinating,  that  it  seem- 
ed next  to  impossible,  not  to  yield  to  him, 
either  in  public  or  in  private.  He  attained 
to  a  very  advanced  age,  notwithstanding  the 
frequent  persecutions  raised  against  him,  and 
the  formal  edict  of  Decius,  by  which  all  who 
taught  in  the  church,  were  made  guilty  of 
death.  Among  other  works,  he  composed  an  in- 
finite number  of  learned  letters,  and  more  than 
a  thousand  sermons ;  not  through  the  vain  mo- 
tive of  displaying  his  talents,  but  at  the  solici- 
tation of  his  friends,  and  particularly  of  one  by 
name  Ambrose,  who  incessantly  reminded  him 
of  the  account  which  he  one  day  should  have  to 
render  to  the  Creator,  of  the  talents  which  had 
been  intrusted  to  him.  It  was  not,  however, 
till  he  had  reached  his  seventieth  year,  that  he 
consented  to  have  his  homilies  or  his  discour- 
ses transcribed.  Moved  by  the  wants  of  the 
church,  and  afflicted  at  seeing  the  faith  exposed 
by  spurious  translations  of  the  scripture,  he 
published  an  edition,  in  six  columns,  from  which 
it  took  the  name  of  Hexapla.   (1)     The  first 

(1)  Ephiph.  de  mensur. 


314  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHUIICU. 

column  contained  the  Hebrew   text,  in  He- 
brew characters,  and  the  same  text  in  Greek 
characters,  for  the  benefit  of  those  who  could 
understand  the  Hebrew  language  without  be- 
ing able  to  read  it,    with  facility.     For,  the 
Greeks,  extremely  attached  to  their  own  lan- 
guage,   seldom   applied   to  any   other"  and 
Origen  has  been  highly  applauded  for  having, 
at  least  in   his   more   advanced  years,   stu- 
died the  Hebrew  language,  in  order  to  explain 
the  scriptures  with  more  precision  and  facili- 
ty.    It  is,  however,  said,  that  his  knowledge, 
in  this  tongue,  was  not  profound.     The  third 
column  of  the  Hexapla  contained  the  version 
of  Aquila,  who  forsook  the  errors  of  paganism, 
and  became  a  Christian:  but  afterwards  turn- 
ing a  Jew,  he  translated  the  Bible  with  tlie  in- 
tention of  supplanting  the  Septuagint,   and 
w  eakening  those  passages  which  make  men- 
tion of  Jesus  Christ.    The  fourth  column  con- 
tained the  version  of  Symmachus,  composed  in 
the  preceeding  century.     Born  a  Samaritan, 
Symmachus  embraced  Christianity,  and  then 
associated  himself  to  the  sect  of  Ebion.    The 
fifth  column  contained  the  translation  of  the 


HISTORY  OP  THE  CHURCH.  315 

Septuagint,  made  under  Ptolomy  Philadelphus, 
king  of  Egypt,  more  than  two  hundred  and 
fifty  years  before  the  birth  of  Christ.  The 
sixth  contained  the  version  of  Theodotion, 
who  from  a  disciple  of  the  heretic  Tatian, 
turned  Marcionite,  and  then  embraced  Juda- 
ism. Though  the  work  of  an  apostate,  it  was 
not  without  some  merit ;  and  accorded  much 
better  with  the  Septuagint,  than  that  of  either 
Aquila  or  Symmachus.  Origen  considered 
the  Septuagint  the  best  of  all  translations : 
and  only  added  the  three  others,  the  better  to 
explain  some  obscure  and  mysterious  passa- 
ges.  (I) 

This  indefatigable  doctor,  published,  also,  a 
book  entitled  the  Octopla:  which,  besides  those 
versions  we  have  already  mentioned,  contained 
two  others,  by  unknown  authors.  One  of 
which  was  found  at  Jericho ;  the  other  at  Ni- 
copolis,  near  Actium  in  Epirus ;  these,  how- 
ever, were  only  partial  translations  of  the  holy 
book.     The  Octopla  is  still  extant. 

(1)  This  work  was  not  only  esteemed,  but  followed,  by  S. 
Jerome,  in  his  latin  translation  of  the  Septuagint.  Hier. 
praef  in  pentateuch.    Ep.  104  et  39.  ad  Aug.  &c.  &.c. 


316  HISTORY  OF  THK   CHURCH. 

He  wrote,  also,  against  almost  all  heretics ; 
but  especially  the  Marcionites  and  Valentini- 
ans.  He  answered  the  work  of  Celsus,  a  pagan 
philosopher,  against  the  Christian  religion : 
this  answer  has  always  gone  under  the  title 
of  the  "  Apology  for  Christianity ;"  the  best 
that  antiquity  ever  produced,  whether  in  re- 
gard to  profane  and  sacred  learning ;  or  ele- 
gance and  chastity  of  diction;  or  arrange- 
ment and  order  of  the  subject ;  or  strength 
and  power  of  argumentation.  Such  was  the 
opinion  which  Eusebius  formed  of  this  ex- 
traordinary production,  that  he  directed  all 
who  wished  to  acquire  a  sound  and  perfect 
knowledge  of  religion,  to  peruse  the  apo- 
logy of  Origen. 

But  none  of  his  works  can  stand  in  compa- 
rison with  his  commentaries  on  the  scripture. 
The  gospel  of  St.  Matthew  alone,  comprised 
twenty-five  volumes :  and  it  is  to  be  remarked, 
that  he  is  the  first  writer  that  ever  engaged 
in  that  difficult  career.  But  of  his  commen- 
taries or  sermons,  none  in  the  original,  and 
but  few,  translated  into  Latii^  by  Ruflinus,  have 
reached  our  days. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  817 

The  works  of  Origen  are  not  without  their 
faults :  but  the  one  in  which  he  has  erred 
most,  is  his  treatise  "  on  principles."  His 
design  in  this  work  was  to  establish  the  prin- 
ciples to  which  man  must  adhere  in  matters 
of  religion :  and  thus  to  give  the  death-blow 
to  the  heresies  of  Valentinus,  Marcion,  and 
other  sectarians.  But,  led  astray  by  the  spe- 
cious maxim  of  Platonism,  that  the  punish- 
ment inflicted  by  the  Deity,  was  merely  me- 
dicinal, he  asserted  that  the  damned  would, 
one  day,  cease  to  be  objects  of  the  Divine 
vengeance,  and  be  admitted  to  a  participa- 
tion of  the  joys  of  heaven.  This  is  the 
chief  error  of  that  extraordinary  man : 
which,  however,  he  advanced  merely  as  an 
opinion ;  without  supporting  it  as  a  certain 
truth.  To  the  doctrines  of  the  church,  he  al- 
ways evinced  an  unqualified  submission. 

One  of  the  most  illustrious  disciples  of  Ori- 
gen was  Gregory,  surnamed  Thaumaturgus, 
or  the  worker  of  prodigies.  (1)  He  was  born 
at  Neocsesarea  in  Pontus,  of  a  noble  and 
wealthy  family.     At  the  age  of  fourteen  he 

(1)  Greg.  Nyss.  in  vit.  Greg.  Thaumaturg. 


318  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

lost  his  father.  His  mother  watched,  with  spe- 
cial care,  over  his  edncation :  and  used  every 
means  to  facilitate  his  exertions  in  the  study 
of  literature  and  eloquence.  Blessed  with 
superior  talents,  he  made  rapid  progress  :  and 
promised  not  to  disappoint  the  hopes  of  an 
anxious  parent. 

There  was  at  Berytha  in  Phoenicia,  a  cele- 
brated school  of  Roman  jurisprudence,  to 
which  Gregory  was  sent ;  on  his  way  thither 
he  passed  through  Ca?sarea,  where  he  had  an 
opportunity  of  hearing  the  lectures  of  Origen. 
His  quick  and  penetrating  mind  knew  well 
how  to  appreciate  the  merit  of  so  great  a 
master.  He  was  pleased  with  Ca^sarea : 
contracted  an  intimate  friendship  with  the 
head  of  its  school,  and  relinquished  the  idea 
of  proceeding  to  Berytha.  Origen,  convinced 
of  the  excellent  qualities  of  his  new  disciple, 
omitted  nothing  that  could  tend  to  form 
him.  But  his  principal  aim  was  to  open  his. 
eyes  to  the  follies  of  paganism,  and  the  beau- 
ties of  the  Christian  religion.  He  expressed 
a  longing  desire  to  procure  for  him  true  and 
substantial  happiness :    and   after   gradually 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  31 D 

preparing  the  way,  endeavonred  to  inculcate 
in  his  disciple  the  principles  of  true  philoso- 
phy. He  taught  him  logic,  or  the  art  of  rea- 
soning solidly  :  natural  sciences,  or  the  study 
of  the  works  of  creation  :  geometry  and  astro- 
nomy which  serve  to  elevate  the  ideas,  and 
instruct  the  heart :  and  philosophy ;  which 
teaches  the  mind  to  reflect  on  itself,  subdue 
its  passions,  and  reduce  to  practice  the  real 
and  unsophisticated  virtues  which  it  recom- 
mends. After  this  he  turned  his  attention  to 
the  study  of  theology,  and  the  scripture : 
expounded  all  that  the  ancient  poets  and  phi- 
losophers, both  Greek  and  foreigners,  had 
written  on  divine  things :  but  carefully  kept 
from  his  view  those  who  taught  direct  athe- 
ism, by  denying  the  existence  of  a  Divinity 
and  a  providence.  This  is  the  method  which 
Gregory  (1)  informs  us  was  followed  by  his 
master.  He  gives  us  a  glowing  picture  of  the 
goodness  of  Origen's  heart ;  the  purity  of  his 
style  ;  and  the  perfection  of  his  mind,  in  the 
discourse  delivered  immediately  after  his  bap- 
tism.    For,  as  soon  as  he  became  acquainted 


(1)  Greg,  in  Orig. 


320  HISTORY    OF    THE    CHURCH. 

with  the  principles  of  Christianity,  he  did  not 
hesitate  to  abandon  the  pagan  system.  Gre- 
gory's purity,  even  from  his  earliest  infancy, 
was  a  subject  of  admiration :  on  this  head,  he 
enjoyed  an  unsulhed  character,  even  before 
his  conversion  to  Christianity. 

After  the  completion  of  his  studies,  he  re- 
turned to  Neocaesarea,  where  his  family  en- 
joyed great  wealth,  and  occupied  the  highest 
stations.  But  the  love  of  prayer  and  the  stu- 
dy of  the  science  of  salvation,  inspired  him 
with  a  predilection  for  solitude :  distributing 
all  his  wealth  among  the  poor,  he  took  the 
resolution  of  passing  in  holy  obscurity  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life.  His  shining  virtues  could 
not,  however,  but  attract  the  attention  and 
admiration  of  the  world :  he  was  soon  elevated 
to  the  episcopal  dignity,  notwithstanding  all 
his  exertions  to  escape  from  the  honour,  and 
the  responsibility  of  such  a  promotion.   (1) 

The  faith  continued  to  make  rapid  progress 
under  the  propitious  reign  of  Alexander.  The 
ceremonies  of  the  church  became  every  day 
more  magnificent,  and  its  doctrine  more  res- 


(1)  Vid.  Baron,  ad.  ann.  "233.  viii. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  321 

pected.  The  faithful,  however,  did  not  ne- 
glect to  stand  prepared  against  the  days  of 
trial,  which  were  soon  to  return.  Pope 
Callixtus  constructed,  on  the  Appian  way,  a 
subterraneous  cemetery  which  bears  his  name. 
There  the  faithful  were  buried :  and  there,  in 
the  ensuing  persecution,  they  took  refuge 
from  the  sword.  (1)  Even  at  this  epoch,  not- 
withstanding the  benevolence  of  Alexander's 
disposition,  the  faithful  did  not  enjoy  entire 
security.  The  sovereign  pontiff  himself  was 
apprehended ;  thrust  into  prison ;  bruised 
many  days  successively  with  cudgels ;  and 
precipitated  from  a  window  into  a  well.  He 
sat  little  less  than  four  years,  (2)  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  St.  Urban.  Many  other  martyrs  fell 
by  the  swords  of  intriguing  politicians.  These 
men,  who  were  in  high  repute  at  this  period, 
looked  upon  the  Christian  religion  as  a  no- 
velty, incompatible  with  the  laws  of  Rome. 
Ulpian,  one  of  the  most  celebrated  of  them, 
published  a  treatise  on  the  duty  of  proconsuls, 


(1 )  On  the  interesting  subject  of  the  catacombs  or  ceme- 
teries, see  Baronius  ad.  ann.  226.  iii.  iv, 

(2)  Martyr.  Rom.  et  alia. 

voii.  I. — 21 


822  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

in  which  he  collected  all  the  opinions  of  for- 
mer princes  respecting  the  Christians ;  and 
attempted  to  prove  that  they  were  subject  to 
the  severest  penalties.  Raised  to  the  dignity 
of  prefect,  or  governor  of  Rome,  he  treated 
with  extreme  rigour  the  faithful,  whom  he 
conceived  to  be  nothing  better  than  malefac- 
tors. (I)  He  himself,  however,  fell  a  victim 
to  the  fury  of  the  praetorian  guards. 

The  church  was  soon  entirely  deprived  of 
the  hopes  held  out  by  the  moderation,  and 
natural  benevolence  of  the  emperor  Alexan- 
der. His  zeal  for  public  order  and  strict  dis- 
cipline, notwithstanding  the  respect  which  it 
could  not  fail  to  command,  imposed  on  the 
people  a  burden  for  which  their  degeneracy 
was  unetjual.  He  had  recently  obtained  a 
signal  victory  over  the  mighty  Artaxerxes ; 
who  had  subjugated  the  Parthians,  and  re-es- 
tablished the  Persian  monarchy.  He  was 
now  obliged  to  march  to  the  extremity  of  the 
empire,  against  the  Germans;  who,  having 
passed  the  Rhine,  and  the  Danube,  inundated 
and    carried   devastation   through   the    pro- 

(1)  Lactant.  lib.  5.  cap.  11.  12. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CHURCH.  323 

vinces.  Alexander  had  already  reached  the 
vicinity  of  Moguncia :  and  the  barbarians 
had  fled  beyond  the  Rhine,  when  a  tumult 
breaking  out  among  the  legions,  he  was 
massacred  in  the  year  237,  the  fourteenth 
of  his  reign.  Mamaea,  who  accompanied 
him  in  this  expedition,  was  likewise  put  to 
death. 

This  bold  attempt  seemed,  at  first,  nothing 
more  than  a  paroxysm  of  fury :  but  when  it 
was  discovered,  that  the  chief  conspirator  was 
raised  to  the  imperial  throne,  it  assumed  the 
appearance  of  a  premeditated  plot.  This  con- 
spirator was  Maximinus  :  a  man,  whose  cha- 
racter bore  all  the  rough  traits  of  the  barba- 
rian ;  none  of  the  refinements  of  the  Roman. 
He  was  born  in  Thrace  :  (1)  his  father  was  a 
Goth  ;  his  mother  an  Albanian:  both  his  man- 
ners and  his  figure  plainly  spoke  his  origin. 
His  stature  was  gigantic.  He  was  originally 
a  herdsman  ;  then  a  common  soldier  :  but  his 
military  prowess  soon  raised  him  to  the  high- 
est honours.  When  on  the  throne,  his  first 
study  was  to  inspire  his  subjects  with  teriiror  : 

(1)  Capit.  in  Maxim. 


324  HISTORY  OP  THE  CHURCH. 

he  put  to  death  four  thousand  men,  without 
trial  or  distinction,  of  whom  the  greatest 
crime  was,  that  they  bewailed  the  death  of  the 
humane  Alexander.  The  Christians  had 
every  reason  to  regret  the  fate  of  that  benevo- 
lent prince  ;  and  therefore  incurred  the  odium 
of  the  imperial  assassin.  This  was  the  cause 
of  the  sixth  persecution.  To  them  every  ca- 
lamity and  misfortune  was  attributed.  The 
decree  of  Maximinus  was  particularly  aimed 
against  the  bishops,  whom  he  considered  the 
supporters  of  Christianity.  (1)  The  cities,  the 
country,  the  fortifications  and  the  camps,  were 
crowded,  according  to  Tertullian,  with  the  fol- 
lowers of  the  Christian  religion.  They  were  at 
the  bar  ;  in  the  palace  of  the  Caesars  ;  every 
where,  except  in  the  temples  of  the  pagan  gods: 
and  had  they  been  put  to  death  or  exiled,  the 
empire  must  have  been  left  a  wilderness  ;  a 
prey  to  the  first  bold  invader.  But  what  gave  a 
greater  latitude  to  the  persecution,  was  the 
untoward  zeal  of  a  Christian  soldier:  which  eli- 
cited the  celebrated  work  of  Tertullian,  enti- 
tled the  "  Soldier's  Crown."     Maximinus,  on 


(1)  Euseb.  6.  hist.  21. 


HISTORY  OP  THE  CHURCH.  82»5 

ascending  the  throne,  distributed  among  the 
troops  the  usual  donatives:  it  was  customary 
for  each  soldier  to  present  himself  with  a 
wreath  of  laurel  on  his  head.  Among  the 
crowd  appeared  one,  with  his  head  uncovered, 
and  carrying  the  wreath  in  his  hand  :  being 
asked  why  he  did  not  wear  it,  "  it  is"  he  re- 
plied, "  because  I  am  a  Christian ;  and  my  re- 
ligion forbids  me  to  be  crowned  with  your  lau- 
rels." He  was,  immediately  stript  of  his  uni- 
form, deprived  of  his  arms,  and  sent  to  prison. 
The  great  majority  of  the  Christians  censured 
his  imprudence.  But  Tertullian  contended, 
that  the  crown  was  a  token  of  pagan  super- 
stition :  and  that  in  refusing  to  wear  it,  the 
soldier  only  complied  with  his  strict  duty.  It 
was  asked  in  what  part  of  the  sacred  writings 
such  practices  were  condemned.  Tertullian 
attempted  to  prove  that  they  were  condemn- 
ed by  tradition.  (1)  Though  at  this  time  a 
Montanist,  his  notions  are  generally  correct; 
and  the  authority  of  tradition  is  solidly  estab- 
lished :  but,  in   the  direct  point  in  question. 


(1)  See  the  dissertation  in  Spondanus  p.  172.  v.    LaureuiKi 
acestare  licitum. 


326  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

his  rigour  is  extreme,  and  his  opinions  erro- 
neous. He  pubHshed,  at  the  same  time,  a 
treatise  on  persecution :  in  which  he  main- 
tains, that  no  Christian  in  the  time  of  danger, 
can  save  his  hfe  by  flight,  or  redeem  it  by  mo- 
ney. 

St.  Barba,  whom  the  Greek  church  holds 
in  great  veneration,  and  who,  it  is  said,  was 
instructed  by  Origen,  received  the  palm  of 
martyrdom  at  Nicomedia,  during  this  persecu- 
tion. St.  Pontian,  pope,  successor  to  St.  Ur- 
ban, was  exiled  to  Sardinia,  where  he  was 
put  to  death,  after  a  pontificate  of  five  years. 
(1)  Of  this  persecution,  which  continued  three 
years,  we  have  few  details,  except  that  the 
churches  erected  in  the  preceding  reign  were 
burned,  and  every  species  of  cruelty  practised 
against  the  Christians.  In  the  room  of  Pon- 
tian, St.  Anterus,  a  Greek,  succeeded ;  who,  in 
all  probability,  died  a  martyr,  one  month 
after  his  election.  (2) 

He  was,  eight  days  after,  succeeded  by  St. 
Fabian,  whose  election  was  esteemed  miracu- 


(1)  Martyr.  Rom.  19.  nov. 

{2)  Euseb,  in  chron.  et  hist.  6.  22, 


HISTORY    OF    THE  CHURCH.  327 

lous.  Fabian  had  just  arrived  from  the  country, 
when  the  clergy  were  assembled,  to  elect  their 
chief  pastor  :  he  was  confounded  in  the  mul- 
titude ;  but  a  dove  was  seen  to  descend  and 
repose  over  his  head.  (1)  This  excited  uni- 
versal attention :  all,  with  one  voice,  ex- 
claimed, he  is  worthy  of  the  episcopacy :  and 
he  was  immediately  raised  to  the  pontifi- 
cal chair.  He  sat  fourteen  years,  without 
ever  degenerating  from  his  miraculous  voca- 
tion. 

The  Roman  empire  was,  at  this  period,  in 
a  critical  situation ;  Maximinus  was  growing 
every  day,  more  odious :  the  yoke  was  in- 
tolerable: Africa  displayed  the  signal  of  re- 
volt: Gordian  was  made  proconsul,  and  his 
election  was  ratified  at  Rome,  by  the  people 
and  senate :  he  associated  with  himself  his 
son,  whose  name  was  also  Gordian :  both 
were,  three  months  after,  defeated  by  the 
partisans  of  Maximinus.  The  son  fell  in 
battle  *,  the  father  strangled  himself  in  despair. 
The  senate  dreading  the  resentment  of  Maxi- 
minus, raised  to  the  throne,  Maximus  and 


(1)  Euseb  6.  hist. 


328  HISTORY  OP  THE  CHURCH. 

Balbinus.  (1)  But  the  people  were  not  satis- 
fied with  a  choice,  in  which  they  had  no  share : 
to  appease  them,  it  became  necessary  to  dig- 
nify with  the  title  of  Csesar,  Gordian,  grand- 
son of  the  proconsul,  then  only  eleven  years 
old.  Preparations  for  war  were  made,  by 
both  parties :  Maximinus  sat  down  before 
Aquilea,  and  made  upon  it  many  bold,  but 
vain  assaults.  In  consequence  of  his  ill 
success,  his  fury  was  roused  up  to  insanity : 
he  threw  himself  into  the  midst  of  his  own 
soldiers,  pierced  them  ^t  random  :  and  sacri- 
ficed to  his  phrenzy  a  host  of  faithful  warriors. 
Fired  with  indignation,  a  band  of  soldiers  fell 
upon  him  in  broad  day,  and  massacred  him  in 
his  tent.  His  head  was  despatched  to  Rome, 
where  it  was  received  with  loud  acclamations. 
A  calm  ensued :  but  it  was  of  short  duration. 
The  soldiery  could  feel  no  attachment  to  em- 
perors who  were  not  of  their  own  creation: 
Maximus  and  Balbinus  had  not  reigned  a 
year,  before  the  army  mutinied,  and  put  them 
to  death.     The  young  Gordian,  (2)  was  pro- 


(1)  Herod,  lib.  7.  i.  capitol.  in  Maxim,  et  in  Gordian. 

(2)  Herod,  lib.  7. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  329 

claimed  emperor  :  he  blessed  the  empire  with 
a  tranquil  reign ;  and  the  Christians  with  a 
season  of  repose.  He  was  assassinated,  and 
succeeded,  by  Philip. 

The  church  still  continued  to  make  many 
important  conquests.  The  bishops  took  ad- 
vantage of  the  calm,  to  elect  worthy  co-ope-^ 
rators  in  the  ministry.  Phaedimus,  bishop  of 
Amasea,  a  man  distinguished  by  the  gift  of 
prophecy,  succeeded  in  placing  Gregory 
Thaumaturgus  on  the  episcopal  chair  of  Neo- 
csesarea ;  a  city,  which  at  that  time,  contained 
but  seventeen  Christians.  Gregory  submit- 
ted to  the  divine  call,  was  consecrated  with 
the  accustomed  ceremonies ;  but  requested 
a  longer  time  to  instruct  himself  thoroughly 
in  the  mysteries  of  religion.  It  chanced,  that 
having  spent  a  whole  night  in  meditation, 
he  was  favoured  with  a  vision  of  the  Blessed 
Virgin  and  St.  John,  who  explained  to  him  the 
mystery  of  the  Trinity.  (1) 


(1)  The  instruction  which  he  received  on  this  occasion, 
he  committed  to  writing  :  S.  Gregory  of  N}'ssa,  makes  men- 
tion of  it.  It  has  been  cited  in  the  iifth  oecumenical  council: 
as  also  by  S.  Basil  the  Great,  and  Leontius  Scholasticus. 
Basil  de  Sp.  S.  c.  29.  et  ep.  64  ad.  Neocses.  Leont.  de  sect, 
act.  8. 


330  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

After  this  vision,  the  holy  bishop  set  out  for 
the  diocess  which  he  was  appointed  to  govern. 
The  people  flocked  from  the  city  to  meet  him  : 
before  night  many  embraced  the  truth  :  and 
on  the  succeeding  day  his  door  was  besieged 
by  muhitudes  of  the  poor  and  afflicted. 
He  cured  the  sick,  and  by  the  influence  of  his 
miracles  persuaded  thousands  to  beHeve  in 
Jesus  Christ.  Among  the  bishops  whom  he 
appointed  in  different  places,  the  most  re- 
markable is  St.  Alexander,  bishop  of  Co- 
mana.  When  there  was  question  of  choosing 
a  prelate  for  that  church,  S.  Gregory  recom- 
mended the  clergy  to  regard  neither  wealth 
nor  nobility,  but  pure  merit.  In  the  crowd 
was  confounded  a  man,  whose  occupation  was 
to  work  in  coal.  (1)  This  was  Alexander  : 
by  a  special  inspiration,  he  was  deemed  the 
most  proper  person,  to  be  raised  to  the  bishop- 
rick  of  Comana :  he  was  accordingly  chosen  : 
received  with  loud  applause  by  the  people,  and 
governed  the  church  of  Comana,  until  the 
persecution  of  Decius,  when  he  was  crowned 
with  martyrdom. 

(1)  Bolland.  vit.  S.  Greg.  Thaumal. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  331 

St.  Babylas,  bishop  of  Antioch,  terminated,  at 
this  same  time,  by  a  glorious  martyrdom,  his 
mortal  career.  (1)  Of  the  miracles  oj^erated  at 
his  sepulchre,  St.  John  Chrysostom,  (in  a  dis- 
course which  is  generally  attributed  to  him,) 
speaks  with  enthusiasm.  The  emperor  Philip 
wishing  to  enter  his  church,  on  the  vigil  of  Eas- 
ter, to  participate  in  the  prayers  of  the  faithful, 
was,  according  to  this  father,  refused  admission, 
until  he  performed  the  penance  which  his 
sins  deserved.  Philip  promised  to  submit  to 
whatever  penance  he  should  inflict ;  and  for  a 
time  proved  that  he  was  in  earnest.  But  it  does 
not  appear  that  he  persevered  to  the  end. 
Of  his  having  been  converted  to  the  Christian 
religion,  there  can  be  little  doubt:  (2)  the  only 
argument  against  it,  is,  that  he  was  ranked, 
after  his  death,  among  the  gods.  But  this 
argument  is  a  feeble  one :  since  it  is  well 
known  that  the  Roman  people  conferred  this 
absurd  honour  on  all  the  emperors,  without 
any  regard  to  their  individual  characters. 


(1)  Euseb.  in  chron. 

(2)  Euseb.  6.  hist.  27,  Vincent.  Lerin.  cap.  23.  Orosius  1.  7. 
Cassiod.  in  chron.  &c. 


3^2  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

During  his  reign,  many  martyrs  sufifered  at 
Alexandria.  Of  these,  the  most  celebrated  is 
the  Virgin  Apollonia,  who,  in  an  advanced 
age,  signalized  herself,  and  honoured  the 
church,  by  her  courage  and  virtues.  Menaced 
by  the  pagan  multitude  with  the  fagot,  if  she 
refused  to  comply  with  their  proposals,  she 
courageously  leaped  into  the  flames  which  liad 
been  enkindled  to  alarm  her.  (1) 

This  epoch  is  marked  in  a  singular  manner, 
by  the  death  of  the  celebrated,  but  unfortu- 
nate, Tertullian.  It  was  the  general  per- 
suasion among  the  ancients,  that  he  died  in 
the  stern  profession  of  heresy :  and  the  sect 
of  Tertullianists,  which  was  not  extinct  in 
the  days  of  St.  Chrysostom,  confirms  this 
probable  opinion.  He  was,  without  doubt, 
a  man  of  profound  and  general  erudition : 
notwithstanding  the  unfavourable  account 
which  he  himself  has  left  us,  of  his  studies : 
his  genius  was  ardent  and  glowing ;  his  in- 
tellect penetrating  and  subtle :  but  his  fre- 
quent deviations  from  sound  doctrine,  gave 
room  to  suspect,  that  he  possessed  more  of 

(1)  Euseb.  6.  hist.  34. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CHURCH.  SSS 

vivacity  than  of  solid  judgment.  Of  his  Apo- 
logetic we  have  already  spoken.  His  books 
on  baptism,  penance,  prayer  and  patience, 
on  female  dress  and  shows,  were  composed 
while  yet  in  the  bosom  of  the  true  religion. 
That  on  prescriptions  expressly  declares,  that 
he  then  lived  in  communion  with  all  the 
apostolic  churches,  particularly  that  of  Rome, 
which  he  extols  «in  the  highest  terms.  Al- 
most all  his  other  works,  were  written  after 
his  fall:  of  these,  some  are  professedly  directed 
against  the  Catholic  church :  and  others  are  in- 
terspersed with  excellent  preservatives  against 
the  heresies,  which  the  Montanists  condemned. 
The  treatises  against  Marcion  and  Praxeas 
contain  many  precious  fragments.  Of  his 
works  which  are  purely  heretical,  the  princi- 
pal are  his  treatise  on  monogamy ;  those  on 
impurity,  and  that  on  the  soul.  His  work, 
entitled  the  Robe,  in  which  he  adduces  the 
reasons  which  caused  him  to  take  the  philo- 
sopher's gown,  is  a  rare  example  of  decay  of 
taste  and  degeneracy  of  style.  It  is  difficult 
to  conceive  how  so  futile  a  production  could 


334  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

have  emanated  from  the  pen  of  the  author  of 
the  celebrated  Apologeticus.  (1) 

Some  years  after  TertulHan,  died,  in  the  fif- 
ty-ninth year  of  his  age,  the  celebrated  Origen : 
it  is  to  be  hoped,  that  this  extraordinary  man 
did  not  persist  in  error  ;  his  memory  is  not, 
however,  entirely  free  from  suspicion :  there 
was  current  among  the  ancients  a  proverb 
which  is  applied  to  Origen  by  Cassiodorus : 
"  When  good,  none  better :  when  bad,  none 
worse."  (2)  The  number  of  his  writings  ac- 
cording to  Ruffinus,  amounted  to  six  thousand : 
he  dictated  at  once  without  any  perplexity, 
to  seven  amanuenses  :  this  circumstance  may 
account  for  many  of  the  errors  which  are  to 
be  found  in  his  works  (3) 

Soon  after  Tertullian  and  Origen,  another 
great  luminary  arose  in  the  person  of  Thas- 


(1)  Of  Tertullian  S.  Jerome  was  accustomed  to  say: 
"  Laudo  ingenium  hominis,  damno  hceresesy  Hier-  apol.  adv. 
Ruff. 

(2)  Ubi  bene,  nemo  melius:  ubi  male  nemo  pejus.  Cassiod. 
inst.  div.  lect. 

(3)  Origen  has  had  several  apologists:  the  first  is  said  to 
have  been  Pamphilus,  martyr;  St.  Jerome  was,  at  first,  of 
this  opinion;  but  afterwards  retracted  it,  and  attributed  the 
apology  to  Eusebius — Ruffinus  also  wrote  in  defence  of  Ori- 
gen: but  his  work  was  censured  by  St.  Jerome.  See  Spon- 
danus  p.  1 96.  iv. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  335 

cius  Cyprian,  a  Carthagenian  ;  of  a  senatorial 
family,  conspicuous  for  its  opulence  and  no- 
bility. He  applied  himself  with  equal  suc- 
cess to  the  belles-lettres  and  profound  sci- 
ences :  and  became  well  acquainted,  not  only 
with  eloquence,  but  also  with  the  different 
branches  of  literature.  (1)  He  was  born  and 
educated  in  idolatry ;  and  continued  in  it  for 
a  long  time,  in  despite  of  the  expostulations 
of  his  friend  Caecilius.  His  lively  imagination, 
his  soft  and  voluptuous  habits,  exaggerated  the 
sacrifice  that  Christianity  would  require  at 
his  hands ;  and  it  was  not  till  after  a  hard 
struggle  that  he  could  burst  his  fetters.  "  At 
that  time,"  he  writes  in  a  letter  to  Donatus, 
"  tossed  upon  the  stormy  sea  of  the  world,  and 
having  no  beacon  to  direct  my  way,  I  could 
hardly  be  persuaded,  that  God,  in  his  mercy, 
would  save  me  :  I  was  not  then  aware,  that  a 
person  may  be  born  a  second  time  ;  and  that 
by  being  regenerated  in  baptism,  the  old  man 
is  laid  off,  and  a  new  one  put  on." 

But   Cyprian    was   sincere   and  resolute : 
regardless  of  the  censure  of  his  pagan  friends, 

(1)  Lactant.  lib.  5.  c.  1.  Greg.  Naz.  orat.  in  laud.  Cypr, 


336  HISTORY    OP    THE    CHURCH. 

and  the  raillery  of  his  enemies,  he  sold  his 
possessions  ;  distributed  the  price  among  the 
poor ;  embraced  the  state  of  celibacy ;  lived 
in  retirement ;  and  occupied  his  time  in  me- 
ditating, and  studying  the  holy  scriptures. 
He  had  a  peculiar  admiration  for  Tertullian : 
and  was  accustomed  to  style  him  his  master. 
But  the  master  was  soon  surpassed  by  the 
disciple  :  who,  while  he  possessed  an  imagi- 
nation equally  strong  and  brilliant,  displayed, 
at  the  same  time,  more  taste,  and  solidity  of 
judgment.  He  is  generally  esteemed  the 
greatest  orator  among  the  Latin  fathers.  "  He 
possesses,  says  Lactantius,  (1)  such  elegance 
of  genius  to  adorn,  and  such  neatness  of  dic- 
tion to  express,  his  sentiments,  that  it  is  hard 
to  say  in  which  he  is  more  excellent."  Such 
extraordinary  merit  and  virtue  could  not  be 
long  unobserved  or  unrewarded.  From  a 
Neophyte  he  was  raised  to  the  dignity  of  a 
priest :  and  Donatus  dying  a  short  time  after, 
he  was  promoted  to  the  episcopal  chair,  to 
the  universal  satisfaction  of  the  people.  His 
episcopacy,   which   commenced   under  such 

(1)  Lact.  ut  sup. 


HISTORY    OP    THE    CHURCH.  337 

happy  auspices,  presented  an  unbroken  series 
of  ecclesiastical  virtues.  He  diligently  stu; 
died  the  public  good  :  sanctity  was  depicted 
upon  his  countenance  :  and  his  whole  person 
marked  with  dignity.  He  was  engaging 
without  obsequiousness ;  reserved,  without 
sullenness  ;  modest,  without  singularity ;  and 
serious,  without  sadness.  These  qualities 
won  the  affection,  and  secured  the  veneration, 
of  all  who  knew  him. 

Tranquillity  had  now  continued  during  five 
years.  But  Philip  was  not  of  a  character  to 
maintain  a  long  and  settled  calm :  new  diffi- 
culties began  to  appear :  dissension  tore  the 
provinces :  Decius,  the  descendant  of  an 
ancient  family,  in  Pannonia,  was  sent  to  his 
native  country,  where  the  troops  had  thrown 
off  all  military  discipline,  and  roved  at  large, 
in  a  general  relaxation  and  licentiousness. 
Decius  was  a  man  of  talents  and  integrity : 
and  possessed  a  cultivated  mind.  With  a 
view  to  escape  his  animadversion,  the  soldiers 
strove  to  conciliate  his  favour  by  raising  him 
to  the  imperial  throne.  He  was,  accordingly, 
proclaimed  emperor  :  and  Philip,  vanquished 

VOL.  I. — 22 


338  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

by  him  in  a  battle,   wan  slain  by  his  own  sol- 
diers. 

A  short  time  after  this  event,  St.  Fabian 
consecrated  seven  bishops,  and  sent  them,  to- 
gether with  a  great  number  of  inferior  minis- 
ters, into  the  provinces  of  Gauh  these  bishops 
were,  according  to  St.  Gregory  of  Tours,  (1) 
Trophimus  of  Aries  ;  Paul  of  Narbonne  ;  Di- 
onysius  of  Paris  ;  Gratian  of  Tours  ;  Saturni- 
nus  of  Toulouse ;  Martial  of  Limoges ;  and 
Austremonius  of  Auvergne. 

St.  Fabian,  having  sat  fourteen  years,  suf- 
fered martyrdom  under  Decius.  After  his 
death,  the  holy  see  remained  a  year  and  a 
half  vacant :  it  being  impossible,  on  account 
of  the  persecution  which  broke  out,  at  this 
epoch,  to  choose  a  supreme  pastor. 

The  edict  for  the  persecution  (2)  was  pub- 
lished to  all  the  provincial  governors  :  the 
rigour  with  which  it  was  executed,  is  almost 
incredible :  all  the  powers  of  invention,  and 
all  the  refinements  of  barbarity,  were  exer- 
cised against  the  faithful:  martyrs  were  torn 


(1)  1  hist.  Trac.  63. 

(2)  Oros.  lib.  7.  cap.  21. 


HISTORY  OF  THECIIURCH.  339 

under  the  scorpion :  and  then  having  their 
wounds  dipped  in  honey,  exposed  in  the 
burning  sun,  to  be  tormented  to  death,  by 
flies,  gnats,  or  hornets. 

St.  Alexander,  bishop  of  Jerusalem,  (1)  St. 
Sabina  of  Smyrna,  and  S.  Ambrose  the  friend 
of  Origen,  received,  at  the  same  time,  the 
palm  of  martyrdom. 

Optimus,  the  proconsul,  exercised  through 
all  Asia,  the  most  inhuman  cruelty.  He  ex- 
amined a  merchant  by  name  Maximus,  and 
would  assist  in  person  at  his  execution  :  after 
the  saint  had  endured  the  torture  for  some 
time,  the  proconsul  bade  him  acknowledge  the 
folly  of  his  obstinacy,  and  sacrifice  to  the 
gods.  "  Neither  your  iron  hooks,  nor  heated 
plates,  returned  the  martyr,  will  overcome 
him  who  is  animated  by  the  grace  of  God." 
Optimus  then  commanded  him  to  be  stoned. 

Many  others  fell  victims  to  the  cruel  super- 
stition of  these  times :  St.  Quadratus  at  Ni- 
comedia;  S.  S.  Tryphon  and  Respicius  at 
Nice ;  St.  Christopher  in  Lycia  ;  St.  Mercury 
at  Csesarea  of  Cappadocia ;  and  seven  young 

(1)  Acta  sine.  mart. 


340  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

men  at  Ephesus,  commonly  styled  the  Seven 
Sleepers,  (1) 

The  triumph  of  St.  Agatha,  at  Catana  hi 
Sicily,  was  not  less  renowned.  Of  her  acts 
few  seem  properly  authenticated:  but  the 
hymn  composed  in  her  honour  by  St.  Dama- 
sus,  and  a  preface  by  St.  Gregory,  prove  her 
claim  to  the  highest  celebrity. 

At  Nicomedia  there  were  many  mar- 
tyrs ;  of  whom  the  most  celebrated  were  Lu- 
cian  and  Marcian.  In  the  West,  besides  St. 
Agatha,  the  most  illustrious  were  Tusca  and 
Maura,  at  Ravenna,  Abdon  and  Sennen,  at 
Rome.  In  Africa  the  persecution  raged 
with  more  violence,  after  the  arrival  of  the 
proconsul.  Every  refinement  of  cruelty  was 
exercised  against  the  faithful :  they  were  torn 
until   no  part  of  their  bodies  remained  un- 


(1)  These  seven  young  men,  shutting  themselves  up  in  a 
cave,  to  escape  the  fury  of  the  persecution,  died  there:  they 
derived  the  name  of  SleeperSj  from  the  common  Latin  term 
used  among  the  Christians:  Dormierunt  in  Domino :  they 
slept  in  the  Lord.  Another  reason  has  been  given  for  their 
appellation:  by  some  it  is  said  that  they  actually  slept  during 
two  hundred  years:  and  it  may  surprise  the  reader  when  he  is 
informed,  that  for  the  latter  opinion  there  are  many  authori- 
ties: Harum  sententiarum,  says  Baronius,  quaenam  praeferen- 
da  sit  non  equidem  definio:  he,  however,  inclines  in  favour 
of  the  former.     Vide.  not.  Bar.  in  Martyr.  Rom.  27.  Jul. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  341 

mangled :  and  the  prisons,  though  crowded, 
could  not  contain  the  number  of  confessors, 
who  died  unpitied,  of  hunger  and  thirst. 

St.  Cyprian,  who,  we  have  seen,  was  one  of 
the  most  illustrious  of  the  Christian  teachers, 
was  peculiarly  obnoxious  to  the  pagans.  They 
saw  him  employed  in  defending  a  religion, 
which  it  was  their  aim  to  annihilate  :  stung 
with  jealousy  and  transported  with  rage,  they 
made  the  amphitheatre  ring  with  their  vo- 
ciferations :  "  Cyprian  to  the  lions,"  "  Cyp- 
rian to  the  lions."  (1)  His  own  personal 
safety  did  not  occupy  his  thoughts :  but  his 
solicitude  for  the  church  induced  him  to  fly 
from  the  dangers  which  encompassed  him. 
He  retired  into  solitude :  but  did  not  there 
lead  an  inactive  life.  (2)  He  wrote  frequent 
exhortatory  letters  to  his  priests,  and  the  con- 
fessors in  prison  :  "  I  conjure  you,  he  says  in  a 
letter  to  the  clergy  of  Carthage,  to  redouble 
your  fervour ;  and  since  I  am  forced  to  be 
absent,  while  you  do  your  duty,  discharge 
mine  also.  Let  not  the  present  calamities  be 
an  excuse  for  any  irregularity  in  ecclesiastical 

(1)  Cypr.  ep.  55.  ad  Cornel.     (2)  Pont,  in,  vit.  Cypr. 


342  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

tliscipline,  or  for  neglecting  the  suffering 
members  of  Jesus  Christ ;  not  those  only 
who  are  in  chains,  but  all  who  still  preserve 
the  faith.  Have  a  still  more  special  care  of 
widows,  strangers,  and  the  infirm.  Yet  a 
little  courage,  and  peace  will  soon  be  restored 
to  us."  In  writing  to  the  confessors  the  vi- 
gilant pastor  expresses  his  eagerness  to  enjoy 
once  more,  if  possible,  their  blessed  company. 
"  Nothing,"  he  assures  them,  "  would  be  more 
agreeable  to  him,  than  to  kiss  their  pure 
hands,  loaded  with  chains,  for  having  refused 
to  sacrifice  to  idols  :  and  their  lips,  consecrat- 
ed by  the  confession  of  the  adorable  name 
of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 

The  holy  bishop,  Gregory  Thaumaturgus, 
also  retired  only  to  exhibit  to  his  flock  an  ex- 
ample of  Christian  prudence.  As  he  had 
given  them  all  birth  in  Jesus  Christ,  and 
knew  that  they  were  still  "  infants  in  religion," 
he  took  care  not  to  expose  them  to  the  dan- 
gers of  being  apprehended,  unless,  by  a  pe- 
culiar indication,  he  knew  it  to  be  the  will  of 
Providence.  His  discretion  was  blessed  in  a 
striking  manner  :  for  during  the  whole  of  the 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CHURCH.  343 

persecution  of  Decius,  history  does  not  men- 
tion a  single  apostate  at  Neocaesarea. 

Of  the  faithful,  many,  to  avoid  the  calami- 
ties of  the  times,  took  refuge  in  solitary 
places;  some  fled  even  to  the  frightful  wilds  of 
Arahia,  where  they  perished  with  hunger 
and  thirst.  Numbers  fell  victims  to  the  rapacity 
of  barbarians^  or  the  depredation  of  robbers. 
Thousands  flocked  from  Alexandria  and  all 
Egypt,  into  the  solitudes  of  Thebais,  from 
which  the  eremitical  institution  took  its  origin. 

The  first  of  those  illustrious  solitaries,  was 
St.  Paul,  a  native  of  lower  Thebais.  In  his 
youth,  neither  wealth  nor  temptation  could 
lure  him  into  any  disorder :  his  fondest  study 
was  virtue  :  but  too  humble  to  expose  himself 
to  death,  he  fled  into  the  desert,  where  he  found 
in  the  meditation  of  "  eternal  things,"  more 
substantial  felicity,  than  he  could  have  en- 
joyed in  his  earthly  possessions.  His  dwelling 
was  a  cavern  cut  by  the  hand  of  nature,  out 
of  a  rock,  near  which  there  was  a  stream  of 
water.  His  grot  was  shaded  by  a  palm-tree  : 
which  nourished  the  saint  with  its  fruit,  until 
the  raven  supplied  him  with  miraculous  food. 


344  HISTORY  OP  THE  CHURCH. 

In  this  deep  solitude,  with  no  companions  but 
the  monsters  of  the  desert,  Paul  passed  nine- 
ty-two years.  After  spending  whole  nights 
in  prayer,  he  often  complained  that  the  morn- 
ing rose  too  soon  to  disturb  his  heavenly  joys. 
God  did  not  make  his  servant  known  to  any 
one  except  St.  Anthony,  a  little  before  his 
death :  which  took  place  in  the  hundred 
and  thirteenth  year  of  his  age.  (1) 

Notwithstanding  the  remonstrances  and 
zeal  of  virtuous  prelates,  many  abuses  pre- 
vailed at  Carthage,  which  were  productive  of 
fatal  consequences.  Multitudes  of  Christians, 
led  astray  by  the  temptations  that  surrounded 
them,  abandoned  the  faith :  and  to  avoid  the 
shame  of  a  public  apostacy,  they  sent  a 
written  retractation  of  the  faith  to  the  gover- 
nor :  (2)  thence  they  took  the  name  oi  Libel- 
latici.  This  degeneracy  was  to  St.  Cyprian 
a  source  of  unspeakable  grief.  But  the  conduct 
of  Felicissimus,  a  priest,  pierced  his  soul  with 
sorrow.  This  man,  for  a  long  time,  lost  no 
opportunity  of  afflicting  the  holy  prelate.    Not 

(1)  Hier.  in  chron. 

(2)  S.  Cypr.  de  Cap.  ep  52.  ad  Anton,  ep  68.  ad  Hisp. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    CHURCH.  345 

succeeding  in  a  design  which  he  meditated 
regarding  the  Libellatici,  he  broke  out  into 
open  schism :  raised  up  altar  against  ahar :  and 
led  his  followers  upon  a  mountain,  near  the 
city,  from  which  he  hurled  down  his  anathe- 
mas against  all  who  refused  to  join  his  stand- 
ard. The  holy  bishop  finding  it  necessary  to 
put  a  check  to  the  growing  evils,  excommu- 
nicated Felicissimus.  The  public  conduct  of 
this  man  did  not,  like  that  of  most  impos- 
tors, assume  the  appearance  of  sanctity.  (1) 
He  was  notorious  for  his  extortions,  and  in- 
famous for  liis  immoralities.  Novatus,  a  priest 
of  Carthage,  associated  himself  with  Fe- 
licissimus :  and  became  the  principal  author 
of  the  mischief.  Novatus,  to  the  darkest  vices 
of  the  heart,  added  cruelty  and  rapacity :  he 
is  said  to  have  plundered  orphans,  widows,  and 
even  the  very  churches  :  and  after  having 
starved  to  death  his  father,  refused  him  the 
common  tribute  of  sepulture.  The  voice  of 
the  public  was  raised  against  him ;  the  faith- 
ful demanded  an  exemplary  punishment,  for 
those  crying  vices.     He  was  to  have  been  de- 

(1)  Cypr.  ep.  38.  39.  40. 


346  HISTORY    OP    THE    CHURCH. 

posed,  perhaps  excommunicated  ;  but  the  ca- 
lamities ot  the  times  prevented  the  promul- 
gation of  the  sentence.  Not  content  with 
having  distracted  the  church  of  Africa,  he  re- 
paired to  Rome,  where  he  immediately  formed 
many  strict  connexions.  At  Carthage  he  sup- 
ported the  faction  of  Felicissimus  :  at  Rome, 
he  embraced  the  system  of  Novatian  :  accord- 
ing to  which,  the  Christian  who  once  had  the 
misfortune  to  apostatize,  was  for  ever  excluded 
from  the  communion  of  the  faithful.  Such 
was  the  origin  of  the  first  schism  that  ever 
disturbed  the  peace,  or  broke  tKe  unity,  of 
the  Roman  church. 


END  OF  VOL.  I. 


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